The Ijanikin community and its environs witnessed a distressing incident as cultists ran amok, which led to the fatal shooting of a 38-year-old police Inspector assigned to Zone 2, Police Command, Onikan Lagos.
The life of Sunday Apochi, the deceased officer, was cut short as he fell victim to a deadly attack by the notorious Aiye confraternity members in front of the police quarters at Alasia, Ijanikin, Lagos, during the weekend at 8 pm.
findings reveal that the officer who met an unfortunate end was a father to three children and hailed from Otukpo Local Government in Benue state. His association with the Nigerian police force began in the year 2004.
An eyewitness testimony reveals that the inspector was gruesomely hacked mercilessly with an axe, before succumbing to a gunshot.
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An anonymous colleague of the late officer furnished chilling details to newsmen at the scene on Monday morning. It stated that the cultists’ brutality was beyond comprehension as they initiated the assault by hacking the officer’s left hand and head with an axe before finishing off with a fatal gunshot to his head. The dreadful incident occurred at about 8 pm the day before.
Speaking about late police officer, a female neighbour named Abike fondly described Sunday as an easygoing individual. Despite his profession, he oozed a calm demeanour,
Which did match the aggressive nature of his profession.
Abike expressed sorrow over the unfortunate circumstances of his death at the hands of a cultist.
Adewale Abass, a landlord in the Alasia community, disclosed that in the aftermath of the policeman’s murder, a sense of fear gripped the area.
As a result, store proprietors opted to shut down their establishments and fortify them with locks and keys. This preventative action was taken due to their fear of possible police arrests, following the invasion of the community on Monday.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin said: ‘One of the suspects involved in the incident has been arrested. The investigation is ongoing. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang who are currently at large.’
The concerned individual further implored the intervention of the Commissioner of Police in dealing with the alarming rise of cultist-related incidents in the community.