UPDATED: Police name officers who ‘killed’ Kolade Johnson

The police have provided the names of two officers arrested over the fatal shooting of Kolade Johnson in Lagos.

Mr Johnson, 36, died after being hit by a stray police bullet near a football viewing centre on Sunday evening.

The officers involved were taken into custody as part of the initial police response to the killing that has gripped the country and sparked nationwide outrage.

The officers were identified as Ogunyemi Olalekan (an inspector), Godwin Orji (a sergeant).

The police said both were part of a patrol team of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad that shot Mr Johnson.

The disclosure, contained in a statement by police spokesperson in Lagos, came a day after PREMIUM TIMES reported that three officers had been taken into custody.

PREMIUM TIMES has now learnt that the last officer, Ojiawuna Samuel ( a corporal), was found not culpable in the killing.

Zubairu Muazu, the Lagos police commissioner, said even though the corporal was listed on the station roster as one of the three officers that were supposed to go on the assignment, he was unable to actually follow them, leaving only two officers.

The two officers proceeded on the assignment with two civilian members of a vigilante group, Mr Muazu said. But only the officer who fired the shot that killed Mr Johnson and his police colleague were arrested.

The police also distributed a picture taken after the two officers were arrested, but it was not formally stated which of them fired the shot.

A witness who said he was also arrested by the unit during the raid, told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that the leader of the team fired the fatal shot.

The witness, Deji Omoloja, described the leader of the team as tall, dark, bald and huge with protruded belly.

He was on his way out when the team picked him up for carrying a curly hairstyle and shoved him into their vehicle, after punching and slapping him many times.

In additional details he gave to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Omoloja said the officer communicated mostly in Yoruba.

Mr Muazu gave the names of the two officers in custody during a condolence visit to Mr Johnson’s family in Mangoro, Lagos, the neighbourhood where he was killed.

The police chief condemned the action of the officers and assured the family of a thorough investigation and sanctions.