Man accused of cement theft jumps into Lagos lagoon, dies
A male adult, simply identified as Azeez, has reportedly jumped into the lagoon at the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge in Lagos State after allegedly being accused of stealing bags of cement.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident occurred on Friday at about 10:45 a.m.
Our correspondent also learnt that a man was allegedly chasing the deceased, which led to him jumping inside the lagoon.
A police source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, told PUNCH Metro that the director of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency operations in Lagos Central said that he received a call informing him of an incident at the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge on Friday.
Upon arriving, he said he saw a group of people gathered at the waterside, gazing at the lifeless body of a man who had drowned and was subsequently identified as Azeez.
“On April 26, 2024, at about 1220 hours, the director in charge of the LASEMA operations in Lagos Central reported that about 1045 hours of the same date, he received a call that there was an incident at the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge.
“On getting there, he met a large crowd gathered by the waterside, watching the lifeless body of a man who had drowned, who was later identified as Azeez.”
The source added that paramedics at the pre-hospital in Lagos confirmed him dead, adding that the deceased was being chased for allegedly stealing bags of cement.
The deceased jumped into the lagoon in response to accusations that he had stolen bags of cement.
“He was later confirmed dead by paramedics in pre-hospital care in Lagos. It was discovered that one man was pursuing the deceased before he jumped into the lagoon. He did that because he was alleged to have stolen bags of cement.”
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.
He added that the body had been deposited at the Mainland General Hospital for preservation and autopsy, noting that the scene was visited by the police and an inquiry had begun.
Hundeyin said, “A scene was visited while the corpse was evacuated and deposited at the Mainland General Hospital, Yaba, for autopsy and preservation. An investigation in progress.”
PUNCH Metro had reported recently that a female adult, Nimotalahi Ishola, had jumped into the lagoon while on board a ferry at Igando, in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Ishola was said to be in the boat with 11 other passengers while en route to the Totowu area of Ogun State when she suddenly pulled her life jacket and committed the act.
Also, it was reported that the Lagos State Police Command said on Friday that a total of seven people drowned in different parts of the state last week.
The deaths were recorded at hotel swimming pools, beaches, and the lagoon.
