A university undergraduate was murdered by a trigger happy cop.
The police officer that killed a student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure on Tuesday in Lagos has been arrested, police authorities have said.
The police announced the arrest of the officer on Thursday. He was declared missing hours after the shooting.
The student, Olalekan Ajayi (identified as Kunle, aka Ifa, by a family member) was murdered by the police officer for allegedly breaking the Lagos transportation law by using a commercial motorcycle on restricted areas.
The victim was hustling with the motorbike to make some money while waiting at home for the Nigerian government and university lecturers to settle an ongoing strike.
The Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities had called a strike action last month to force the government to honour an agreement reached with the teachers in 2009, forcing most students to move back home.
“The Police officer linked with the killing of the late Olalekan Ajayi has been arrested, detained and is presently undergoing investigation,” the police said on Thursday in a statement by spokesman Frank Mba; but declined to name the suspected officer.
Chima Onwe, former online editor at Channels Tv, who was at the scene said the suspected killer police officer was identified as Aruna Ayodele.
Police authorities said it will “do its utmost best to ensure that the investigation into the death is properly done and concluded in record time.”
Nigeria’s police boss, Mohammed Abubakar, has also directed the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State to take proper steps to ensure that justice is expeditiously done on the matter.
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