A man attempting to evade arrest tragically died after jumping into a canal in Lagos. The incident occurred during a police pursuit, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his escape.
According to the Lagos State Police Command, a man allegedly drowned in a canal in the Ipaja area of Lagos while trying to flee from police officers.
In a statement released on Friday through his verified X account (@benHundeyin), SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the Command, clarified that the police were not directly involved in pursuing the man into the canal. This incident took place on Wednesday at approximately 10:00 a.m. in Mosan Okunola area.
“The young man was a passenger on a motorcycle traveling against the traffic flow. Upon spotting an approaching police vehicle, the rider abruptly made a U-turn. This caused the passenger to dismount quickly, dart across the road, and head toward a nearby tipper garage,” Hundeyin explained.
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Witnesses at the scene reported that as the man fled, he emptied his pockets and was cautioned about an approaching canal. Unfortunately, he disregarded these warnings and jumped into the water with tragic consequences.
Hundeyin mentioned that the police officers, surprised by his behavior, halted their vehicle and approached the canal. Bystanders told them that the man had jumped in.
After waiting for several minutes without spotting him, the officers departed, concluding that he had managed to escape successfully.
“The man took off as soon as he saw the police; they neither spoke to him, touched him, nor pursued him,” he emphasized.
SP Hundeyin assured residents that the police command, led by CP Olanrewaju Ishola, is dedicated to maintaining professionalism and will not tolerate any misconduct from its officers.
He also offered his condolences to the family of the deceased, praying for strength as they navigate this difficult time.
