There was a near collapse of law and order in the Ajah area of Lagos on Wednesday morning after a policeman killed a bystander while chasing youths selling black market petrol.

Youths besieged the Ajah police division to protest the murder. The angry youths also barricaded the Abraham Adesanya end of the Ajah highway, causing gridlock in the affluent Lagos seaside.

Witnesses said Gafaru Buraimoh, who was patronising a POS vendor, was hit by a stray bullet shot by an unnamed police inspector at about 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

In the morning, the youths mobilised for public demonstration, calling for justice against the excesses of the police.

The police officers fired teargas at the protesters to disperse the crowd after alleging that they were vandalising properties and threatening to burn down the police station. 

Lagos police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin said the police officer was “disarmed and detained,” noting that “full-scale investigation” has been launched.

“At About 2330hrs of Tuesday, December 06 2022, a shooting incident involving men of Ajah Division, resulted in the unfortunate death of Gafaru Buraimoh of Happy Land Estate, Ajah.

“The officer behind the shooting, an Inspector of Police, was immediately disarmed and has been detained, as full-scale investigation has commenced.

Mr Hundeyin said the family of the deceased has been notified while assuring them that justice will be served.

“The Lagos State Police Command through the Area Commander, Elemoro and Divisional Police Officer, Ajah has since notified and established contact with the family.

“The Command, while commiserating with the family of the deceased over the avoidable and most unfortunate incident, gives assurances that the already commenced investigation into the immediate and remote circumstances leading to the shooting will be brought to a speedy and conclusive end, while equally ensuring that justice is served.”