There was pandemonium in the Apapa area of Lagos on Wednesday, when a policeman attached to a bank allegedly shot dead three tanker drivers.
The incident, which later degenerated into the razing of the bank, started when an argument ensued between the police officer and the tanker drivers who had parked their trailers in front of the bank.
Sources told our correspondent that the incident later led to the setting ablaze of the bank, where the policeman was guarding, by other tanker drivers.
An eye witness, Omega Male, said that the bank was set ablaze after its management allegedly refused to release the killer-policeman to the colleagues of the dead drivers, who had demanded for him.
“There is a chaos in Apapa, as a policeman attached to Diamond Bank in Burma Road, Apapa is accused of shooting three tanker drivers dead. Their angry colleagues, however, gathered in front of the bank to demand the release of the polieman, but the bank authorities refused and the bank was ablaze,” Male said.
It was also gathered that the policeman, who was later released to the angry drivers, was beaten mercilessly.
Another eye witness of the incident, Phil Adex, said one other bank was also set ablaze by the angry drivers, who also took to the streets to protest.
“Two banks in Apapa are currently up in flames as tanker drivers protesting the alleged killing of their colleagues set them ablaze,” he said.
Our correspondent observed the deployment of policemen and operatives of other security agents to check the angry mob.
The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, said the situation had been brought to normal by the police.
He also said the killer-policeman had been arrested and the victims had been taken to hospital.
“Police officers have restored normalcy to the area and we’ll continue to assure members of the public that they can continue to trust in the police. We have arrested the erring officer and the victims have been taken to hospital for treatment,” the PPRO said.
