EXCLUSIVE: How Four Policemen Attached To 'Land Grabber' Ariori Left Duty Post For Illegal Assignment At Lagos’ Owode Market, Shot Three Dead

Four police officers attached to Golden Ventures Ltd., Egbeda, Lagos, were involved in a deadly confrontation after abandoning their official duty post to carry out an unauthorised assignment with controversial businessman Engineer Akeem Ariori.

According to a police wireless message exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday, the officers, namely Inspector Ahmed (Number 293995), Corporals Ibrahim Garba (Number 523604) and Ibrahim Kashim (Number 523774), and Inspector Jubrin, went to Ajegunle on Wednesday for an illegal assignment in the company of Ariori, who has been linked to land-grabbing activities.

The police memo stated that the policemen “left their duty post without the knowledge of the squadron to Ajegunle in company of the company CEO, Engineer Akeem Ariori where they were attacked by some hoodlums.”

The police memo said that while they were there, they were attacked by armed hoodlums. Inspector Jubrin sustained serious chest injuries, and the officers’ vehicle was damaged during the exchange of fire. Three of the assailants were killed in the shootout.

“The armed men opened fire, leading to the death of three persons among the attackers,” the police memo said.

The police wireless report confirmed that all officers involved have been disciplined, and their unit commander has been questioned over the incident.

Owode Market Violence 

On Wednesday evening, SaharaReporters reported that four police officers reportedly working for Ariori shot and killed three people during a violent incident at Owode Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market in Lagos State earlier that day.

SaharaReporters gathered that Ariori, now declared wanted by the Lagos State Police Command, engaged the four police officers on an illegal duty to attack the traders.

“These are the handiwork of trigger-happy police officers working for a land grabber at Owode Motor Spare Parts market, Ikorodu road today,” an eyewitness told SaharaReporters, sharing a video and a photo of two of the victims.

“The IGP warned that no policeman must be involved in land matters, but some police officers turned a deaf ear,” the eyewitness added.

Confirming the violence at the market on Wednesday, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement, identified the landgrabber, Ariori, who led the attack on the traders, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited.

“Consequent on the disturbance of public peace, law and order, blocking of highways and roads leading in and out of Owode Onirin Market as a result of the deadly clash between traders and land grabbers, the Commissioner, of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, personally led a combined team of Police detachment comprising personnel of the Command’s operations department, the Police Mobile Force, Rapid Response Squad, Tactical squads and Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to the affected area and normalcy was restored,” the police spokesperson said in the statement.

“During the clash between the traders and the land grabbers, three persons sustained fatal injuries and a Police Inspector was seriously injured,” Hundeyin said.

“The three fatally injured persons were confirmed dead when they were rushed to the hospital by the Police, while the Police Inspector injured is in a critical and life-threatening condition at the hospital where he is receiving treatment.”

The police spokesperson said that in the course of preliminary investigation and prima facie evidence available, “One Abiodun Ariori, CEO of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited, is connected to the deadly clash between the traders and the land grabbers.

“He is hereby declared wanted by the Lagos State Police Command as all efforts to effect his arrest and bring him to justice have so far proved abortive.

“It is very clear that he has gone into hiding.

“The wanted suspect, Abiodun Ariori, with last known address in Egbeda, is dark in complexion. If seen, should be arrested and handed over to the nearest police station or call the Lagos State Police Command control room.”

Hundeyin added that in furtherance of ensuring justice and in compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, “Four policemen, brought in from outside Lagos State by the wanted suspected land grabber, were immediately identified and detained at the Command headquarters for orderly room trial for going on illegal duty with the wanted suspect.

“The outcome of the investigation into the case and the trial of the policemen will be made public.”