News

Suspected thief dies while escaping arrest

Published

6 years ago

August 13, 2018

A suspected thief , Daniel Ekwerekwu , has died while allegedly escaping from where he had gone to steal in the Maryland area of Lagos State.
The Anambra State indigene was said to have hit his head on a concrete floor while attempting to scale a fence .

The police alleged that Ekwerekwu sneaked into Okungade Street , Mende -Maryland , around 6 am on Sunday to vandalise and steal from cars parked by the roadside .

The state Police Public Relations Officer , CSP Chike Oti , said while commiting the crime , a resident , who woke up to prepare for church , sighted the suspect and raised the alarm .

Oti , in a statement on Sunday , said policemen on routine patrol in the area , went after the suspect .

He noted that the late Ekwerekwu had taken to his heels in a bid to escape justice , when he died.

The PPRO said , “ Nemesis caught up with the said Daniel Ekwerekwu on Okungade Street , Mende- Maryland , Ikeja , where he went on a perilous mission of car vandalisation , to wit : stealing of car body and engine parts .

“ However , around 6 am , one of the owners of the cars being vandalised woke up to prepare for a church service , only to see Daniel vandalising his car .

“ He raised the alarm , which attracted a police patrol team from the Anthony Police Division on neighbourhood patrol , as well as other residents. They chased the thief who ran into a building . He tried to scale the fence , but unfortunately for him , his hands slipped and he landed on a concrete floor , breaking his skull in the process .

“ When the police searched his clothes , they recovered a voter card bearing his name , picture and car keys that led to the recovery of a dark blue car , with number plate , KRD 708 DK , with which he came for the operation .

“ He was taken to the Mainland Hospital , Yaba , where he was confirmed dead. The body was thereafter deposited in the hospital ’ s morgue for autopsy. ”
Oti said the state Commissioner of Police , Edgal Imohimi , urged Lagos communities to form vigilance groups , adding that once the groups met the requirements of the law , the command would recognise and back them with armed policemen .