A police sergeant has died after he was allegedly knocked down and dragged for several metres by a Lexus ES 350 during a stop-and-search operation in Egbeda, Lagos.
The deceased officer, identified as Sergeant Johnson Okediji, was reportedly conducting stop-and-search duties along Olugbede Street when the incident occurred on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, disclosed the incident while briefing journalists on the activities of the command in September.
According to the police commissioner, officers had signalled a Lexus ES 350, with registration number FKJ 223 KX, driven by 20-year-old Olumide Olusola, to stop.
Fatai said the driver initially complied but allegedly accelerated as Sergeant Okediji approached the driver’s side of the vehicle.
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The vehicle reportedly struck the officer and dragged him underneath it for several metres despite efforts by police officers and passers-by to stop the driver.
The suspect was subsequently chased and arrested, while the injured officer was rushed to a nearby hospital before being referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
However, Okediji, who reportedly sustained multiple fractures and severe head injuries, was pronounced dead on arrival at LASUTH.
“His remains have been deposited at Mainland Hospital Mortuary for preservation and autopsy, while the vehicle has been recovered to the station,” Fatai said.
During a brief interview with journalists after his arrest, Olusola denied intentionally killing the police officer, attributing the incident to an alleged brake failure.
He said he tried to stop the vehicle after discovering the problem but was unable to do so.
“I did not kill the policeman intentionally; it was due to the vehicle’s brake failure,” he said.
The police are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the suspect’s claim of mechanical failure.
The case also highlights the dangers faced by police officers during roadside stop-and-search operations, particularly when motorists fail to comply with instructions to stop.
Authorities have not indicated whether the vehicle underwent a mechanical examination to establish the alleged brake failure.