By Evelyn Usman

LAGOS—The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed a sergeant whose stray bullet allegedly killed a man on Monday in Shomolu area of Lagos.

The erring sergeant, Sunday Ajide ,who was attached to Shomolu division, was said to have led a team of policemen in response to a distress call at about 4.30pm around Shomolu.

On the way, the policemen reportedly saw a Honda Accord vehicle which was driving recklessly.

The motorist was said to have shunned the policemen’ s order to stop.

Apparently thinking the motorist was a fleeing robbery suspect, Ajide was alleged to have fired several shots at the vehicle’s tyres , with the driver still moving on top speed.

Eventually, the motorist was forced to stop on reaching a gridlock, during which the policemen conducted a search without finding any incriminating thing on him

Unknown to the policemen, a stray bullet from Ajide’s earlier shots had allegedly hit an unidentified man who was repairing his tyres at a vulganiser shop, killing him on the spot.

His death sparked off a riot during which the policeman was reportedly almost lynched by a mob but for the timely arrival of reinforcement.

Police sources hinted that the policemen were taken to the command’s headquarters, Ikeja, where they were subjected to questioning by the X-Squad.

Thereafter, sources said Ajidi was allegedly fingered by his colleagues and was subsequently handed over to the Provost section where an orderly room trial was conducted.

“ He was accused of using his rifle recklessly. He was also reminded that in Police regulation, it was better to allow 1000 armed robbers escape than for an innocent person to be killed.”