By Hamilton Nwosa(Head, The New Diplomat’s Data tracking Desk)
In a shocking scene that appears similar to those in theatrical plays, or what is dramatically known as the world of make-belief, a police officer in Lagos on Sunday went hysterical and crazily opened fire on his colleagues as a result of a dispute among them. The shooting immediately led to the death of a sergeant.
Lagos Police Command spokesperson, Bala Elkana who issued a statement on the development on Sunday revealed that the police inspector who carried out the action has been arrested for his “unruly behaviour.”
The Police Command spokesman who identified the inspector as one Monday Gabriel, narrated that the arrested Gabriel resorted to violence and unruly attitude on Sunday morning when he started shooting at his colleagues randomly. In the process, he killed one Felix Okago, a sergeant, while other policemen at the scene managed to escape unhurt.
In a scene that looks like a dramatic act, Elkana said the officer in an attempt to escape from justice, took a patrol van and headed towards Third Mainland Bridge, shooting randomly as he was fleeing. According to the Police spokesman, he was luckily apprehended by officers at Bariga.
Elkana further revealed that the officer has been hospitalized for mental illness and examination, while in-depth investigations have started to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said: “On 31/5/2020 at about 0430 hours, Area A Command received a distress call that one Inspector Monday Gabriel from No 21 Police Mobile Force Squadron Abuja, on Special duty in a Federal Government facility in Ikoyi Lagos, went berserk and started shooting sporadically.
“One Sergeant Felix Okago who was on Special duty with the Inspector, died from the gunshot injuries while others escaped unhurt.
“In an attempt to escape, he took a patrol van and headed towards third mainland bridge, shooting as he was escaping. He was intercepted by Policemen from Bariga Division along Akoka, disarmed and handcuffed. The rifle and vehicle were recovered.
“The corpse of the deceased Sergeant is deposited in the mortuary for autopsy while the Inspector is taken to Police Hospital for medical examination as he presented signs of mental depression.”
