The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed claims that a police patrol vehicle was responsible for the death of a six-year-old girl in the Iyana-Ipaja area on Tuesday.
The tragic incident, which occurred at the Ecobank roundabout, sparked outrage after reports suggested that police officers chasing a suspect from the Moshalashi Police Station caused the child’s death.
In a statement on Wednesday, the command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, expressed sympathy to the bereaved family but clarified that preliminary investigations indicated that the girl was struck by a commercial bus.
According to Hundeyin, the bus driver panicked at the sight of an approaching police van and sped off recklessly, leading to the fatal accident.
“We sympathise with the family of the deceased. However, preliminary investigations have shown that the girl was hit by a commercial bus whose driver panicked and recklessly sped off at the sight of an approaching police van. The driver is in custody, and the investigation is ongoing,” Hundeyin stated via his X.com handle.
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Meanwhile, the deceased’s father has accused the police of attempting to cover up the incident by claiming the vehicle involved somersaulted.
The police have assured the public of a thorough investigation into the matter as the suspect remains in custody.