On October 20, 2022, Ayodele P.O Arugbo, the then Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Olosan Police Station in Mushin, Lagos State opened live bullets on harmless youths protesting against police brutality along Agege Motor Road.
The incident happened when some youths hurled projectiles at some officers who were spotted along the road. A few hours before, arsonists razed a number of police stations in different areas of Lagos including Ilasa Maja, Amukoko, Orile and Ajegunle where it was also reported that some police officers were killed.
READ: Bauchi Lawyer Writes Gov Bala, Berates Him For Dodging #EndSARS Panel Report
At least, 13 youths were gunned down by the DPO (also known as Gbakoje) and his cohorts, according to a report.
Gory videos of the carnage were disseminated across various social media platform as seen here, here and here. It was later rumoured that the deaths of the youth were retaliated by some hoodlums who lynched Gbakoje. However, the officer was later seen walking free as some residents of Mushin claimed he was transferred to Abuja.
Following his heinous act, some military officers were deployed to the scene to restore normalcy. One of the soldier in a video posted on Facebook by Segun Onikoyi pleaded with the aggrieved youths.
According to FIJ, the DPO was later indicted alongside 57 others in a report by the Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters. He was named thrice by petitioners, according to the panel’s report which further recommended his prosecution. The petitions could be seen here.
Although the clampdown on #EndSARS protesters at Lekki Tollgate overshadowed the evil perpetrated in Mushin. Sadly, scores of people killed at the toll gate were also denied justice as the Nigerian government insisted no one died at the scene. But two years after, police brutality continues unchecked.
