The Acting DPO of Shagamu Road Police Station, Superintendent Funmilayo Omolehin has vowed to arrest the killer of police officer, Sergeant Saheed Sarafa, who was murdered on Monday night of February 25, 2020, at Agbala area of Ikorodu.
The incident happened in the evening time of the day when late Sgt. Saheed Sarafa accompanied his friend to arrest an Okada rider who absconded with his bike and attempted to evade payment for the bike.
It was reported that while the deceased and his friend tried to arrest the Okada rider who reportedly got his Okada on hire purchase and later defaulted in paying by running away, violence was unleashed on them.
Informed police source told Oriwu Sun that Okada rider, who lives in Ofin area of Ikorodu (name withheld), bought the bike on higher purchase from the owner (Sgt Saheed’s friend) who lives in the same neighbourhood in Offin, defaulted payment after few months and absconded.
The owner, who was worried, contacted the guarantor of the Okada rider who stood as surety during the transaction and the guarantor promised to trace the runaway Okada rider. The owner who was happy when the guarantor alerted him of the whereabout of the bike rider moved into action to locate the miscreant.
On his way to find the Okada rider, the bike owner phoned his friend and neighbour, Late Sgt Saheed who was a police officer, but was informed that he was not on duty. He went ahead to find the deceased and invited him to assist in the arrest of the fleeing Okada rider.
The policeman reportedly agreed to help his neighbour and friend to arrest the criminal. Unfortunately for the duo, when they found the miscreant, the story went awry. The Okada rider and his colleagues who were together at that time, on sighting his creditor, launched an attack on him by shooting him with a gun. The bike owner escaped after sustaining gun injury on the spot. However, unknown to Sgt. Sarafa, the Okada rider identified him as a police officer and opened fire on him.
Police sources told Oriwu Sun that the Okada rider and his cohorts recognised the police sergeant who lived in their neighbourhood in Offin town and believed if they don’t kill the officer, he will expose them. That’s their main reason for killing the police sergeant at the spot. It is said that the bike owner who escaped with wound is recuperating in a hospital. It was evident that the runaway Okada rider has plans not to pay for the bike he bought on hire purchase and was ready to commit any form of atrocities, include killing to possess the bike.
Meanwhile, the Acting DPO, Funmilayo Omoseyin, a no-nonsense woman has sprang into action and has been working with other security agents to track down the miscreant Okada rider with the resolve to bring him to justice.
This incident has once again confirmed agitation by those citizens who are calling for the total ban of Okada riders on our road. Most of these Okada riders constitute nuisance on our roads and are the ones creating problems not only for commuters but for every law abiding person in the city. Some of them connive with cultists to attack people while others work with muggers to rob people on the go. These are crimes they commit in addition to maiming passengers by over speeding and improper overtaking on the highways.