There was panic on Friday at Era village, Oto Awori Local Council Development Area, Ijanikin, Lagos State when some policemen attached to popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, suddenly opened fire on his fans.
At least one person, simply identified as Alaba, was confirmed dead, while three others were seriously injured.
Those injured were identified as Tunde, Johnson and Ahmed Olanipekun.
The shooting is coming on the heels of a controversy surrounding sporadic shooting by a policeman attached to another popular musician, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.
The policemen were in the convoy of those who had gone to welcome Davido from a trip abroad at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.
Moments after they departed the airport, there was sporadic shooting on the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road.
This led to a probe by the police.
The shooting incident on Friday was said to have occurred moments after Pasuma finished entertaining his fans and was about to leave.
The trigger happy policemen were said to be members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ipakodo, Ikorodu area of the metropolis.
According to eyewitnesses, the deceased, a father of two, was not even at the show.
He was hit by a stray bullet just as he was walking past the scene where Pasuma had his show.
The deceased was buried on the day he was supposed to move into his personal home, which he had just completed.
Incidentally, on the day he was supposed to move into the three bedroom apartment with his wife and kids, was the day he was buried on the grounds of the house.
A source said: “The four policemen left their station at Ipakodo, Ikorodu area of Lagos and followed Pasuma to Ijanikin.
“The idea was to provide security for him while he entertains his fans.
“The policemen, however, were not supposed to be at the place.
“If there should be any provision of policemen, it should have been from the nearest police station.
“But these policemen left their duty at Ikorodu and came down to Ijanikin.”
The policemen were alleged to have shot the victims while trying to control the crowd, which had gathered at the village square to watch the musician.
It was further gathered that the youths of the community invited Pasuma to entertain them at the “2017 Abule Oje Day”.
A family member of Alaba, Sulaimon Ajani, disclosed that the deceased was a furniture maker.
Ajani explained: “Alaba was returning from mosque where he went to observe the Friday prayer when a stray bullet hit him on the chest.
“In fact, he went to Ilogbo, a neighboring village, to buy some materials for furniture.
“On his way back, he decided to stop over at the nearby mosque and observe his Friday prayers.
“As he left the mosque and was heading towards his shop, a stray bullet from police gun hit him on his chest.”
Ajani, who said he was still in shock over the sudden demise of Alaba, said he even saw the deceased on the fateful day he died and exchanged pleasantries with him.
Angela John, a member of the community, described the death of Alaba as “painful”.
John said: “Alaba was supposed to move to his newly built house at Oko-Afo village before the policemen cut him down in his prime.
“Now, rather than move into his new house, he was buried there.
“He left his wife, children and aged parents behind.
“The policemen should not be allowed to go scot free.”
After the bullet hit Alaba, he was immediately rushed to a private hospital in the community.
He was referred to Igando General Hospital, but died on the way to the hospital.
John added: “What surprised us was that after the incident, the policemen ran away.
“They left the victims on the road, writhing in pain.”
John, who said the incident was very unfortunate, added that everyone in the community had been plunged into mourning.
The three other victims, who sustained injuries were said to have been treated and discharged from the hospital.
One of them, Ahmed Olanipekun, described his survival as sheer miracle and God sparing him.
Recollecting the shooting, Olanipekun said: “I was in the midst of the crowd, watching the musician performing when the policemen came over and ordered every one of us to move.
“We all tried to move back.
“Before I knew what was happening, I felt something hit my right leg.
“Blood started gushing out of my leg.
“Everyone scampered for safety.
“Everywhere became rowdy.
“It was after the dust had settled that we got information that Alaba had died of the gunshot.”
The two other victims, Tunde and Johnson, were said to have relocated to their parents’ village for proper medical treatment.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Olarinde Famous-Cole, confirming the incident, said the policemen had been arrested and detained.
Famous-Cole added that they would soon go on orderly room trial.
His words: “Three of the policemen, who escaped from the scene, were recalled to the command, while one of them was arrested at the scene.”
