Two motorcycle passengers were killed by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer during a stop-and-search operation along the Lagos–Ogun boundary on Old Ota Road, an eyewitness revealed.
The witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident, said the shooting occurred around 5 p.m. Friday. Officers had reportedly flagged down a vehicle that refused to stop, prompting one officer to fire a shot toward the fleeing vehicle. The bullet instead struck two passengers on a motorcycle.
“I was watching from afar; the incident happened opposite my house,” the witness said. “The police were conducting a stop-and-search when a vehicle did not stop. One of the officers fired a shot, but the bullet hit two people riding on a motorcycle. The situation became tense, and the intervention of some military personnel and a monarch prevented it from escalating.”
Residents remained anxious following the incident, fearing possible reprisals against police.
“One of the victims was said to be a civil servant. Since Friday, the area has been tense as people are cautious about their movements,” the witness added.
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the officers involved had been arrested. Police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi said the Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, ordered a thorough investigation and assured residents that justice would be served.
“The officers involved in the unfortunate shooting incident in Alagbado have been arrested and taken into custody,” Adebisi said. “The Commissioner of Police has ordered a thorough and intensive investigation, as well as the adequate deployment of personnel to prevent any breakdown of law and order. Normalcy has been restored to the area. The command assures the people of Lagos State that justice will be served, and the outcome of the investigation will be made public in due course.”
The incident has sparked widespread concern on social media over allegations of police harassment and brutality.
An X user, identified as @Debbybold, wrote that officers once delayed her for more than 40 minutes while she was taking her daughter to a clinic because she refused to pay them.
Another user, Ralph Juava, said police behavior across Lagos had become troubling and urged authorities to take action.
“It’s painful when a uniform becomes a tool for intimidation and theft,” another user, @Dekunle, wrote. “Police extortion and brutality happen every day, and nothing is being done about it. Will this ever end?”
