The police command in Lagos State says a man allegedly jumped into a canal and died to avoid arrest in the Ipaja area of the state.

The command’s spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated this in a post he shared on his verified X handle, @benHundeyin, on Friday.

He said that the incident happened on Wednesday at about 10:00 a.m. in Mosan Okunola area of Ipaja.

Mr Hundeyin, who was responding to the report that the man had an encounter with the police, who chased him into the canal, said the report was not true.

He said that the police visited the scene and met witnesses on ground who voluntarily gave their statements regarding the unfortunate incident.

“The young man was a passenger on a motorcycle, riding against the traffic.

“Immediately they sighted the police approaching in their vehicle, the rider made a sharp u-turn while the passenger jumped off the motorcycle, crossed the road and ran through a nearby tipper garage.

“People in the garage who saw him running towards the canal and at the same time emptying the contents of his pockets agitatedly warned him about a canal ahead.

“He did not stop but unfortunately jumped into the canal, ” the spokesperson said

Mr Hundeyin said that the police officers, startled at his behaviour, stopped their vehicle, alighted and went in the direction of the canal.

“The people around informed the police that the young man had jumped into the canal.

“They all went to look, waited some minutes, and did not see him, upon which the police left, believing he successfully evaded them.

“The police officers did not speak with him; they did not touch him, did not chase him, and did nothing. The young man simply saw them and bolted,” he said.

He assured Lagosians that the command, under CP Olanrewaju Ishola, would not condone any form of unprofessional conduct on the part of its officers.

The spokesperson prayed to God to give the deceased’s family the fortitude to bear the loss.

(NAN)