A dangerous pursuit by a male ex-convict who invaded popular Lagos street Police post, almost ended in disaster on Wednesday afternoon in Benin City.
The incident was prompted by a canister, unleashed to deter the suspect simply identified as ‘Black’ by an unarmed Police female officer clad in plain clothes at the police post.
It was leant that the suspect who returned to home after serving his jail term at the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, years ago, went berserk after assaulting a trader at the market in Oredo Local Government Area of the State.
Investigation revealed that the helpless trader had sought the help of police to recover her half rice kept in a bowl, which was forcefully taken from her by the ex-convict who started harassing her after the quarrel broke out between the duo.
It was leant that Black allegedly pulled out a machete from a nearby building material shop at the market and invaded the police post where the officer and a female trader were taking refuge, amid tension.
Pedestrians, commuters and business owners in Lagos street and adjoining quarters, abandoned their wares and scampered to safety during the terrifying moment that sent jitters down the spines of residents and traders.
A source said the dark skin ex-convict, seen as a lunatic, paraded around the police post and call out the officer who allegedly shut the main entrance door of the police post temporarily before the arrival of the reinforced police personnel from Oba market Division.
The source said, “Everybody knows this guy in this market. Why not avoid him and let us have peace? But the police woman sprayed tear gas on his eyes. We understand that he had a quarrel with a woman.
“But in a situation where he started chasing everyone in sight with a cutlass at the market, this sends a wrong signal.
“He is an ex-convict. He was given a special cell in prison because he is a hardened criminal.
“I am more concern about the safety of the police woman. This police work na shoulder them dey out am”, the source told said.
It was also gathered that Oba market Division armed police operatives, tamed the suspect at Police post shortly after a resident of the area, pleaded with Black to drop his machete.
A stern warning was thereafter issued to him by the operatives who described the suspect as a mad man and left him, while the female police officer started recanting her ordeal in the hands of Black.
Effort to obtain comment from one of the officers, Sergeant I.G Marcus who accompanied Oba market police to the police post regarding the incident, were rebuffed.
TheNewspad reports that spokesman for the Nigeria Police Command in Edo State, CSP Moses Yamu, has yet to comment on the jaw-dropping incident.
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