Man accused of stealing cement jumps into Lagoon, drowns while trying to evade arrest

By Sodiq Adelakun

Tragedy struck on Friday at the Lekki/Ikoyi Link Bridge in Lagos when a man identified as Azeez jumped into the lagoon and drowned while trying to escape arrest after being accused of stealing some bags of cement.

According to the Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, on Sunday, the incident was reported at the Ikoyi Police Division by the director of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) at around 12:20 pm.

Hundeyin stated that the director received a distress call at around 10:45 am about an incident at the Lekki/Ikoyi Link Bridge, where a large crowd had gathered by the waterside, watching the lifeless body of a man who had drowned.

The deceased, identified as Azeez, was confirmed dead by paramedics from Pre Hospital Care, Lagos. Investigations revealed that Azeez was being pursued by one Elijah Amos, a cement seller, who accused him of stealing some bags of cement, leading to the desperate attempt to escape by jumping into the lagoon.

“The deceased was later identified as Azeez. He was later confirmed dead by paramedics of Pre Hospital Care, Lagos.

“It was discovered that one Elijah Amos, a seller of cement, was pursuing the deceased before he jumped into the lagoon, because he was alleged to have stolen some bags of cement,” Hundeyin said.

The police visited the scene, and the corpse has been evacuated to the Mainland General Hospital Mortuary, Yaba, for autopsy and preservation.