Policemen At Makoko Demolition Were On Illegal Duty

                                                                             Picture. SaharaReporters

So it appears that the policeman who shot chief, Timothy Hunpoyanwa on the day of the Makoko demolition process was not meant to be on duty. Infact, the Lagos police command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, said she could not put a figure, of those who were on illegal duty.

The visibly angry CP Umar Manko during a condolence visit to the Makoko Community, appealed for calm, he explained that the procedure for the policemen to accompany taskforce officials were not met.

He said there ought to have been a written application to the command requesting for the services of the policemen, after which the command would detail the Marine Police to deploy some of its men.

He, therefore, assured that the command would not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that justice was done, informing that the corporal who allegedly fired the fatal shot was already in detention, stressing that the command would not condone any act of indiscriminate killing from its men.

"We condone with you concerning the death of the chief. We will ensure that justice takes place. The Nigerian Police is undergoing transformation. The era where people shoot anyhow has ended. Therefore, anybody who does such will face the consequences."

Responding, one of the traditional chiefs, Balee Jeje Ayinde, lamented what he described as untold pains fishermen in the area faced in the hands of policemen, appealing to the CP to ensure that such stopped.

He also appealed to the CP to plead with the Lagos State Government on their behalf, to allow them remain in Makoko, adding that they had no other place to go to.

The President of the Fishermen Association, Mr. Emmanuel Agbe, described the area as their ancestral home, adding, "our forefathers came here in 1890 about 120 years ago. This is the only place we have come to recognize as home. Please, beg Fashola to leave us alone."

I have questions regarding this officer on" illegal duty". At what point did the Police come together to be briefed regarding their mission? Was there not a head count (or something)? Who supervised this? Is it normal for an overworked police officer to tag along because he has nothing better to do on a Monday? With this statement claiming the officer was off duty or on illegal duty, is the Government still vicariously liable for the actions of the policeman?

I think so! Although the policeman was off duty. The moment he set foot in that community, in uniform, working alongside his colleges, the officer invoked his official authority. Vicarious liability has been established, because he was purporting to act in his official capacity at the time.