The 20-year-old driver hits a police officer and drags his body for several meters

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old driver who allegedly hit and dragged a police officer for several meters during a traffic stop, resulting in the death of the officer.

Commissioner of Police (CP), Fatai Tijani, revealed this on Monday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters.

Tijani said the accident occurred on August 26, while police officers were carrying out checks on the road.

He said the driver initially stopped after being stopped by officers, but suddenly sped away, hitting one of the officers.

“The officer was hit and dragged under the vehicle for several metres,” he said.

The CP said other police officers chased the vehicle and eventually arrested the driver.

He said the injured officer suffered multiple fractures and serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to another medical facility.

Tijani said the deceased officer, a police sergeant, died from his injuries while receiving treatment.

He said the remains of the deceased were deposited in a mortuary, while the vehicle involved in the accident was transported to the police station for investigation.

The commissioner described the incident as unfortunate, stressing that police officers were deployed on the roads to protect lives and property and prevent crime.

He said stop and search operations remain an important aspect of conventional policing and complement intelligence-led operations aimed at preventing and detecting crime.

The police chief expressed concern about the hostility sometimes faced by police officers in carrying out their duties.

He said police visibility remained important for public safety, urging members of the public to co-operate with officers deployed on the roads.

The CP appealed to motorists to respect the lawful instructions of police officers during stop and search operations rather than attempting to evade them.

However, he advised members of the public who witnessed police misconduct to report such officers through appropriate channels instead of obstructing the officers in carrying out their duties.

Tijani called for mutual respect and cooperation between police and members of the public, stressing that effective crime prevention requires community support.