Police officer dies after being run over during stop-and-search operation in Lagos

A police sergeant, Johnson Okediji, lost his life after being struck and run over by a motorist during a stop-and-search operation in Lagos' Egbeda area. Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, announced the incident during a press briefing about the command's September activities. Sergeant Okediji and fellow officers flagged down a Lexus ES 350 driven by 20-year-old Olumide Olusola at a traffic stop.

The driver initially stopped but then accelerated, dragging the officer beneath the car for several meters despite attempts by colleagues and bystanders to stop him. The suspect was apprehended, but Okediji suffered multiple fractures and severe head injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital and later transferred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

The officer's body was sent to the Mainland Hospital Mortuary for preservation and autopsy, while the vehicle was seized by the police. The suspect denied intentionally causing the officer's death, claiming the incident was due to a vehicle brake failure. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.