The Lagos State Police Command says it has arrested a suspected member of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, for allegedly shooting a 17-year-old boy to death in the Itapo area of Epe Local Government Area.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this on Thursday.
Recall that there was palpable tension in the area on Monday after the suspect reportedly shot the victim for yet-to-be-ascertained reasons.
It was learnt that the incident occurred around 3 am when the OPC member, whose identity had yet to be known, was said to have opened fire on the teenager, killing him on the spot before fleeing the scene.
According to a Facebook post by a user identified as Ibrandtv media on Monday, aggrieved youths and residents of the community took to the streets in protest, carrying the victim’s corpse from Itapo through major areas of Epe to express their anger and demand justice.
The demonstration was said to have caused tension in the area until security operatives, including the police, intervened. Teargas and warning shots were reportedly used to disperse the crowd.
The user wrote, “A 17-year-old boy was tragically shot dead by an OPC member at 3 am in Epe. The suspect fled the scene immediately after the incident.
“In response, angry youths and community members took to the streets, carrying the victim’s corpse in a protest from Itapo to highlight their outrage over the loss.
“The police and security agencies intervened, using gunshot tear gas to disperse the crowd, and retrieved the corpse, taking it to the hospital for further procedures.”
Hundeyin had earlier disclosed that a manhunt was launched for the suspect.
He, however, confirmed the suspect’s arrest in a follow-up enquiry by our correspondent.
“Suspect arrested and transferred to the SCID,” He said in a terse response.
It was reported last Wednesday that a stray bullet killed a student who was heading to the examination centre to sit for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination being organised by the West African Examination Council in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The incident happened on Gbagi Market road in the Egbeda Local Government Area of the state when a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer in pursuit of the boy’s father hit the boy in the back.
