By Kazeem Ugbodaga
A man tragically died after jumping into a canal in the Gowon Estate area of Lagos to evade police arrest on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
According to a statement shared by the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the young man, who was a passenger on a motorcycle, panicked when he saw police officers approaching.
The motorcycle, which was riding against traffic, made a sharp U-turn, while the man jumped off and fled on foot towards a nearby tipper garage.
He said eyewitnesses at the scene saw the man agitatedly emptying his pockets as he ran toward the canal and that despite their warnings about the danger ahead, the man continued running and ultimately jumped into the canal.
“The police officers, startled by his sudden reaction, stopped their vehicle and went towards the canal,” Hundeyin explained in his post.
“They waited for some minutes but did not see the man resurface and left, believing he had successfully evaded them.”
Hundeyin emphasized that the police did not chase, engage, or interact with the man before his fatal decision.
“The young man simply saw the police and bolted,” he stated.
Hundeyin extended his condolences to the family of the deceased, offering prayers for strength in their time of loss.
He also reassured the public that the Lagos Police Command, under the leadership of CP Olanrewaju Ishola, would not tolerate any unprofessional conduct by its officers.
