[EXCLUSIVE] How police stray bullets snuffed life out of father of four, one other on bike while returning home from work [Graphic Video]
When Olorunda Ogunyemi bade his wife and four children farewell at their home in Iju-Ota, Ogun state in the morning of Friday, February 20 for the day’s work at his office in Oshodi, Lagos, it was with smiles and prayers that their breadwinner return safe and maybe with some weekend goodies as he usually does. However, nothing prepared the father, his kids or wife for the tragedy that would later befall him while returning home after a hard day’s job.
He left his house looking good, got to work, did his bit and also left fulfilled at closing but sadly has his life cut short while his family was eagerly anticipating his return. A devout family man and member of The Apostolic Faith Church, he led a predictable lifestyle – leave home for work in the morning and return latest by 7pm except on days of horrible traffic and even if arriving later than expected, he would have established communication with his wife and kids. On such days, he would still get home safe and sound but likely tired. However, it turned out Friday’s trip to work became an exemption as he was never going to return alive to his family.
Rather than board a straight vehicle from Oshodi to Ota Toll Gate, where he would later join another vehicle to his axis at Iju, Ogunyemi rather alighted at the popular Kola bus stop and instead took a bike with another passenger to follow AIT/Alagbado road with the hope of beating the usual Toll Gate traffic.
Two precious lives cut short in a flash
That’s how you all keep arresting and transferring the bloodthirsty demons. No change, this keeps happening pic.twitter.com/LKUYGnw8uf
— Ibrahim Balogun (@Badmanbuckback) February 20, 2026
According to reports and eyewitness accounts, some police officers were conducting a stop-and-search operation at the Lagos-Ogun boundary on Old Ota road. They were said to have stopped a vehicle believed to be driven by a suspected fraudster (yahoo boy). When the vehicle wouldn’t stop, one of the officers corked his gun aiming at the vehicle but the bullets went in direction of the bike man conveying Ogunyemi and another passenger (whose identity is still unknown) while the targeted vehicle escaped.
The bullet pierced through and in just a flash, both men were on the floor in poll of their own blood. The area was soon tension soaked and the patrolling team had to call for backup to restore peace.
When NewsClick Nigeria’s team visited the scene of the accident few days later, it was still under heavy security presence and the tragic incident was still the subject of discussion amongst residents.
“It was a gory and unbelievable sight. As usual, the officers were attracted by the flashy vehicle that passed and they wanted to maybe stop the young driver believed to be a yahoo boy to extort some cash but the driver hurriedly speed off leading one of the officers to fire shots at his vehicle only to be hit by two motorbike passengers. Both passengers died on the spot and the police later picked their corpses along with them,” a resident who identified himself as Rafiu told NewsClick Nigeria.
Family, colleagues thrown in confusion
Meanwhile, for two straight days, Ogunyemi’s family and colleagues did not hear from him and weren’t also aware of the accident. To their bewilderment, his phone was still connecting and would ring out with no response from his end each time they tried. If anything, they wanted to hear some sort of assurance that all is well with him, even if on hospital bed or kidnappers’ den. It was on Saturday evening, two days after the incident that someone picked his call.
“Since Friday, the family has been thrown into confusion on his whereabouts. His colleagues confirmed he came to work on that day and left at the usual closing time. It was very unlikely of him to not establish communication with his family if he had other engagement or wasn’t going to be coming home. We kept calling his phone, it will ring out with no response. When we tried on Saturday evening, a police officer finally picked and asked us to come to the station in Yaba. They explained the sad scenario and stated that his body had since been deposited at the morgue,” a family friend explained.
He further stated that his family are inconsolable at the moment and the burial plans are yet to be decided upon. “His family are yet to come to terms with the ugly development. I’m not sure they have decided on the burial plans yet. But his colleagues, friends and church members are following up closely and offering all the needed assistance where necessary”.
Police confirm incident, arrest of officers involved
The Lagos State Police Command later confirmed the incident. It’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed that the officers involved had been arrested. She said the Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, had ordered a thorough investigation and assured residents that justice would be served.
“The officers involved in the unfortunate shooting incident in Alagbado have been arrested and taken into custody. The Commissioner of Police has ordered a thorough and intensive investigation, as well as the adequate deployment of personnel to prevent any breakdown of law and order. Normalcy has been restored to the area. The Command assures the good people of Lagos State that justice will be served, and the outcome of the investigation will be made public in due course,” Adebisi stated.
Efforts by NewsClick Nigeria for update on the case as at press time was unsuccessful.
NewsClick Nigeria reports that there has been surge in cases of accidental discharge of bullets by operatives of Nigeria Police Force (NPF) of recent. Nigerians are of the hope that the newly appointed acting Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu who had earlier declared that era of impunity in the Force is over will stem the tide.
