On the morning of Friday, January 24, 2025, the Akowonjo area of Lagos State became the scene of a violent confrontation between personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Immigration Service. The altercation, which escalated into a shootout, left an immigration officer and an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with gunshot wounds.
The incident reportedly began around 8:30 am when members of the Lagos State Police Task Force attempted to arrest a motorcycle rider in front of the immigration office. Eyewitnesses claim that immigration officers intervened on behalf of the motorcyclist, leading to a heated argument with the police officers. The situation quickly deteriorated, resulting in both parties engaging in physical combat and subsequently exchanging gunfire, despite the densely populated residential and commercial nature of the area.
The sound of gunshots caused widespread panic, with residents and commuters scrambling for safety. Commercial vehicles hastily reversed to distance themselves from the danger zone. During the melee, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Shasha Police Station arrived at the scene but was reportedly assaulted by immigration officers, who also seized his phone.
Both the injured immigration officer and the DPO were transported to Crystal Hospital for medical attention. An NSCDC officer, also wounded, was taken to the same hospital but was allegedly denied treatment due to the severity of his injuries.
In response to inquiries, NSCDC Lagos Command spokesman, Oluwaseun Abolurin, acknowledged awareness of the incident but denied knowledge of any shootings or injuries to NSCDC personnel. He confirmed that the NSCDC operatives involved were attached to the Police Task Force Office and stated that a debriefing was scheduled for Monday to ascertain the details of the confrontation.
Efforts to reach the Lagos State Police Task Force spokesman, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off. Similarly, attempts to contact the Lagos State Police Task Force Chairman, Adetayo Akerele, and the Passport Control Officer in Ikeja, Mr. Oluwasegun Ogedengbe, yielded no responses.
This incident underscores the critical need for inter-agency collaboration and effective communication among security agencies to prevent such occurrences in the future. The exchange of gunfire in a populated area not only endangers the lives of security personnel but also poses significant risks to civilians. A thorough investigation is imperative to determine the causes of this clash and to implement measures that will foster unity and cooperation among Nigeria’s security agencies.
