In a chilling incident that has sparked public outrage, a Nigerian police officer, Inspector Ayeni Adeolu, attached to Justice Ramon Oshodi in Lagos State, has confessed to fatally shooting a young errand boy under highly questionable circumstances. The tragedy occurred in Ikeja, the state capital, and has once again thrown a harsh spotlight on the recklessness and lack of accountability among some members of the Nigerian Police Force.
According to a disturbing video obtained by SaharaReporters, the visibly shaken officer, believed to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time, admitted to firing the deadly shot. Inspector Adeolu claimed that the bullet, which struck the young man in the chest and killed him instantly, was intended as a “warning shot” to de-escalate a scuffle—not a deliberate act of aggression.
In the now-viral video, Adeolu attempts to explain the incident with trembling remorse:
> “My name is Ayeni Adeolu. I work with Justice Oshodi here in Ikeja, Lagos State. I want to explain why I shot him… He didn’t do anything to deserve it. On my way from work, I was offered alcohol—one of those sachet drinks—and I took it. He was there with me and even said he wasn’t intoxicated. After drinking, I saw him getting into an argument. I told him earlier that if he had issues, I would handle it as a police officer.”
The officer described how chaos erupted shortly thereafter:
> “He was being chased by someone and ran toward me. I tried to calm things down, but when they wouldn’t listen, I pulled out my gun and fired into the air—or so I thought. I’m still shocked the bullet hit his chest. That was never my intention.”
Eyewitnesses and sources close to the scene corroborated parts of Adeolu’s account. They said the errand boy had offered the inspector a sachet of Chelsea dry gin from a local vendor before the confrontation began. Moments later, unidentified individuals reportedly approached and attacked the boy. In an attempt to defend him, Inspector Adeolu allegedly tried to intervene—without identifying himself in uniform—and resorted to firing his weapon.
“He wasn’t in uniform, so they didn’t respect his authority,” a source told SaharaReporters. “He pulled out his pistol to scare them off with a warning shot, but it tragically struck the boy in the chest, killing him on the spot.”
A harrowing portion of the video shows the lifeless body of the young victim sprawled on the ground in a pool of blood, while a panicked and emotional Adeolu clutches his chest in disbelief and grief.
As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Police Command has not issued any official statement regarding the incident, raising further questions about internal discipline, officer mental health, and the lethal mix of firearms and substance abuse within the force.
This latest tragedy is yet another reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive reform in the Nigerian Police Force, including strict protocols around alcohol consumption, firearms handling, and psychological evaluation of personnel—especially those entrusted with the personal safety of high-ranking officials and the public at large.
The public reaction has been swift and unforgiving, with many Nigerians taking to social media to demand justice for the slain errand boy. Human rights activists have called for a transparent investigation and immediate suspension of Inspector Adeolu, pending prosecution.
“It is unacceptable that a life was lost due to the reckless behavior of a drunken police officer,” one Lagos-based activist said. “This cannot be swept under the rug. If we don’t hold this officer accountable, we are telling the world that Nigerian lives are disposable.”
As the country awaits an official response from the authorities, the family of the deceased and concerned citizens continue to demand justice, accountability, and reform—before another ‘warning shot’ becomes a death sentence.
PIONEER NEWS 