IG Taskforce Arrests Two Policemen on Illegal Checkpoint Duty

Man commits suicide in Lagos

The Inspector General of Police (IG) Task Force charged with enforcing the ban on police checkpoints, yesterday arrested two policemen on illegal checkpoint duty at the Okota area of Lagos.

The IG, Solomon Arase, had as one of his cardinal progrmmes pledged to clear police checkpoints, even as he deployed 16 teams nationwide to enforce the ban.

The incident which was witnessed by THISDAY, saw the patrol team swoop on the three policemen at their illegal checkpoint duty.

The policemen dressed in camouflage, had parked their motorcycle in front of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) as they stopped vehicles for stop-and -search, as well as fleeced them before releasing them.

Probably acting on a tip-off, the enforcement team stormed the area and immediately gave a chase as the three policemen made to flee on one motorcycle.

As the policemen fled, they released shots into the air to scare motorists to clear the way for them to escape.

While one policeman was left behind, the second fell off the speeding motorcycle and the two were promptly arrested and transferred to the patrol vehicle.

In another development, a yet-to-be identified young man yesterday committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree with a jean trousers, at Mobolaji Johnson Way, Alausa, Ikeja area of Lagos.

As at mid morning, the corpse was still gangling from the tree although a team of policemen were already deployed to the scene.

According to pictures by THISDAY, the young man dressed in blue jersey and parsley trousers had his tongue hanging out from the effect of the strangulation.

Attempts to reach the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, proved abortive as he did not take his calls nor did he reply to the text message sent to his phone.