Policeman shoots Lagos resident over bad N100 change

A policeman attached to the Special Protection Unit of the Lagos State Police Command, has reportedly shot one Jubril Mobolaji in the Ajiran...

A policeman attached to the Special Protection Unit of the Lagos State Police Command, has reportedly shot one Jubril Mobolaji in the Ajiran, Lekki area of the state over a bad N100 note.

It was learnt that the policeman, one Sergeant Kabiru, who was posted as the orderly to a rich man in the community, had gone to buy a N200 recharge card from a shop operated by one Sherifat.

He was said to have given the woman N500 and collected N300 change – N200 and N100 notes.



Kabiru reportedly complained that the N100 note was “bad” and requested a replacement, which resulted in a verbal exchange between him and Sherifat.

It was gathered that the woman eventually offered to return the N500 note and withdraw her card.

In the heat of the altercation, Kabiru reportedly left in anger only to return some minutes later with his rifle.

He allegedly shot into the ground and inflicted gunshot wound on Mobolaji, who was said to have gone to the shop to buy some items.

A source, who witnessed the incident, told our correspondent that the matter was reported at the Ilasan Police Station and the trigger-happy policeman was arrested.

The source said, “On Tuesday, March 19, around 10:00pm, Sergeant Kabiru went to buy recharge card from a woman, who has a shop in Ajiran.

“He bought N200 recharge card and the woman gave him N300 change. He complained that the N100 note was bad and the woman said she did not have a better one. The woman tried to explain to him that she also collected it from a customer.

“It resulted in an argument between him and the woman and they abused each other. The man left her shop in anger.

“Surprisingly, he came back some minutes later armed with a gun and threatened to kill the woman. He fired a shot into the ground and a bullet hit a man (Mobolaji) who wanted to buy something at the shop.

“Policemen from the Ilasan Division arrested the cop but I don’t know the development on the case.”

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the sergeant was with the Special Protection Unit and was attached to a VIP in the area.

He said the victim had been taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment, urging the police to punish the cop for his actions.

“I learnt the policeman had been working with the man for a while. He was posted from the SPU.

“I was about to sleep that night when I heard gunshots. I could not go out because it was already late. It was the following day I was told it was the policeman that fired the shots.

“The bullet hit Jubril (Mobolaji). I don’t know where he was taken to for treatment, but I learnt he is alive.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bala Elkana, promised to get back with comments on the incident.

However, he had yet to do so as of the time of filing in this report.