Youths assault policeman at filling station, steal cap

There was drama at the Oando Filling Station in the Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State on Tuesday when angry youths pummelled a policeman who allegedly obstructed them from buying fuel at the station.

The policeman, whose name had yet to be ascertained, was attached to a Safer Highways Patrol unit.

It was gathered that as a result of the fuel scarcity, youths numbering over 50 had besieged the station with different jerrycans as early as 4am.

Our correspondent learnt that at about 9am, the Safer Highways Patrol policemen got to the station and had an altercation with the youths.

The youths reportedly pounced on one of the policemen, beat him up, and tore his uniform.

Our correspondent gathered that the policeman’s cap was taken away by one of the attackers.

When source got to the scene around 10am, the youths were still making trouble with their jerrycans and motorcycles, causing traffic at the Berger end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Some Rapid Response Squad operatives and Federal Road Safety Corps officers were observed cautioning the youths, who also accused the policemen of provoking them.

One of them, who gave his name only as Olamide, said the policeman had allegedly tortured a youth before they attacked him.

He said, “I have been here since 6am to buy fuel. At some point, the attendants said they would not sell to people with jerrycans. We tried talking them out of that decision. Then, the policemen came to the scene, and started harassing people.

“One of the officers attacked a young man. So, some youths became angry and punched the policeman. The youths tore his uniform and one of the attackers escaped with the policeman’s cap.”

Our correspondent learnt that the embattled policemen thereafter called for reinforcement from the RRS, which mobilised to the scene and stopped the rampaging youths.

It was gathered that the injured policeman was taken away in a van to an undisclosed hospital.

Another witness, who declined to give her name, said, “The policemen are still looking for the thug who escaped with the officer’s cap. The policeman was hit in the nose, and he staggered and fell. He was dealt with because he and other officers wanted to harass people who were already provoked by the fuel situation.”

The RRS Commander, ACP Tunji Disu, who later came to the station, urged the youths to maintain calm.

“In a rowdy situation like this, you cannot rule out policemen shouting at people. But everyone has to be calm and take things easy,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said she had not been briefed on the incident.

“I do not have that report,” she said.

The post Youths assault policeman at filling station, steal cap appeared first on AfrikMouth.

from AfrikMouth http://ift.tt/1UVVKQF
via JimiVaey