In Lagos, man accused of stealing bags of cement jumps into Lagoon to escape arrest, dies

A man identified simply as Azeez has allegedly jumped into the lagoon in Lagos and drowned, to avoid arrest for being accused of stealing some bags of cement.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this on Sunday, April 28, 2024.

Hundeyin said the director in charge of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) operations in Lagos Central (name withheld) reported the case to Ikoyi Police Division at about 12:20 p.m. on Friday, April 26.

He noted that the director reported that at about 10:45 a.m. on Friday, he received a call that there was an incident at the Lekki/Ikoyi Link Bridge.

He said on getting to the scene, he met a large crowd gathered by the waterside, watching the lifeless body of a man who had drowned.

The police spokesman added: “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, the seller of the cement, was pursuing the deceased before he jumped into the Lagoon because he was alleged to have stolen some bags of cement.”

Hundeyin stated that the scene was visited by the police, while the corpse had been evacuated to Mainland General Hospital Mortuary in the Yaba area of Lagos for autopsy and preservation.

He added that an investigation into the case was ongoing.