*Father blames death on police raid
LAGOS—TRAGEDY Struck in Olodi, Apapa, Lagos State weekend after a part two student of University of Benin, Mr Charles Ederidalo who was scared by indiscriminate shootings from a team of heavily armed policemen on a raid in the area ran into a nearby canal and got drowned.
The team of policemen who reportedly came from Tolu police station were on their usual raid on black spots at Kumuyi street in Olodi, Apapa when they started releasing volleys of bullet shots indiscriminately. The sound of their guns which continued for several minutes, eyewitnesses said, made people to start running for safety and in that process, many people ran into the nearby canal for fear of their lives.
Reports said no fewer than ten persons ran into the canal but were later saved by divers while the 24-year-old UNIBEN student got drowned after concerted efforts made by divers to save him failed. The father of the victim, Mr. Julius Ederidalo, a security guard with Julius Berger told Vanguard amidst tears that his son who was on holidays went to Kumuyi street around 6.30pm on the fateful day to see one of his friends when he met his untimely death.
According to the 56-year-old father of five from Edo State, “He came back from school on Tuesday evening after they finished their examinations for a two-weeks holiday. Before he gained admission into University of Benin, he was involved in organizing lessons for children in and around this area. So, in the evening hours, he normally go round to coach them in their respective streets.
“After he returned, he still thought it necessary to go round and see some of his students and it was in that process that he went to Kumuyi street on that fateful day. I was told by eyewitnesses that a team of policemen came into the street and started releasing bullets indiscriminately. Many people who were scared by the frightening sound of the bullets took to their heels and some of them ran into a nearby canal for safety.
They said that while they were running, gun totting policemen were chasing them and while some ran into disused boats, others simply plunged into the canal. My son reportedly plunged into the water and got drowned after all efforts to save him by divers failed. My son was not a criminal and everybody in the area know him as a cool headed young man who was always helping other younger ones in their studies.
“The police is still having his body and they told us that they are also investigating the matter. All I want is for those policemen who left criminals and were chasing innocent people to be brought to book. My son has not done anything wrong and has an impeccable record. (Shedding more tears, he continued) such an innocent hardworking boy who struggled to gain admission into the University and now, just see how he has ended up”, he said.
Lagos state Police Spokesman, Mr. Emmanuel Ighodalo who confirmed the death of the boy by drowning said they are still carrying out investigations into the circumstances that led to his death. “Come to think of it, why should somebody who has no skeleton in his cupboard start running when he sees policemen? Those policemen were on their usual raid on black spots in the area and if somebody for no just cause decided to run away from them, then he simply endangered his life and I don’t think the policemen should be blamed.”
