Man shot by a drunken police man

When Nonso Ozoemena, a 28-year-old
man, arrived in Lagos, his plan was to set
up a business so that he would be able to
support his widowed mother and his
seven siblings in Anambra State.
Soon after, he was able to open a
restaurant in Trade Fair Complex, FESTAC,
and it seemed his dream was coming true.

His expectation was however eroded after
a drunken police corporal, Mohammed
Abubakar, shot him in the eye.
Ozoemena said he was shot in the eye in
the FESTAC area on August 5, 2013.
Narrating what transpired on the fateful
day, he said, "I had just returned from
work and I was about entering my house
at Amuwo Odofin when I heard the
policeman arguing with someone in the
next house. The policeman then called his
colleagues for help.
"When his colleagues arrived, they
persuaded him to leave the place because
he was drunk. After much pleading, the
policeman left. A few minutes later, the
policeman returned with a gun and started
shooting sporadically.

"One of the bullets hit me in the right eye. A
barber, Bright John, was killed."
PUNCH Metro learnt that during the
shooting, a pregnant woman was hit while
another man, Tayo Ajasa, was also shot in
the thigh.

It was learnt that the policeman, who is
attached to a security company in the area,
fled the scene after realising the havoc he
had wreaked.
Ozoemena and the other victims were later
taken to the Lagos University Teaching
Hospital, Idi Araba.

It was learnt that while other victims were
treated and discharged, Ozoemena, was
taken to the Accident and Emergency Unit
of the hospital, where the eye was
operated.
The company was also said to have
contributed N146, 000 to pay the medical
bill.

The victim, who had been discharged, told
Newslinegossips Metro that he had not been able to
go to work since the incident occurred.
He said he had been in constant pains and
had found it difficult to sleep.
Our correspondent observed that pus was
coming from Ozoemena eye. But the victim
said the pus was the least of his problems.
He said, "I am in so much pain. The
unfortunate thing is that I have not been
able to tell my mother about the incident
because I don't want her to worry.

"I don't have perfect vision anymore. In
fact, a few days ago, I was knocked down
by a vehicle coming from the right side
while I was attempting to cross the road."

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police,
Lagos State Command, Umar Manko, had
declared the policeman wanted.
Manko said the wanted policeman was
attached to Police Mobile Force 17, Akure,
Ondo State, and wondered what he was
doing in Lagos.

However, Ozoemena's lawyer, Mr. George
Nwahajioke, said the police must
compensate his client. The lawyer said
declaring the policeman wanted was not
enough, adding that the victim's
expectations had been eroded by the loss
of his eye.

Nwahajioke, who lamented the increase in
police brutality, said, "Nigerians are living
in fear of arrogant culture of impunity
within the Nigeria Police. Nonso Ozoemena
is just one of the few lucky Nigerians to
survive as our police, who are supposed to
protect us, now turn the barrel of their
guns at us.

"We are demanding N100m as
compensation from the police and the
company jointly and severally to help our
client get the urgent medical attention he
needs."

All efforts to contact the company proved
abortive as an email sent to it was not
replied, while a text message sent to it was
not responded to.

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