A heartbreaking incident unfolded in Lagos State’s Iyana-Ipaja area on Tuesday when a police patrol vehicle, reportedly in pursuit of a suspect, struck and killed a six-year-old girl.
Speaking with the media on Wednesday, the girl’s father, Nnamdi Ugorji, recounted how officers from Moshalashi Police Station hit his daughter while chasing a suspect near the Ecobank roundabout in Iyana-Ipaja.
“The police were in pursuit of someone when their speeding vehicle ran over my daughter,” Ugorji said, his voice filled with sorrow.
He explained that his daughter had accompanied her siblings to an ATM at Ecobank to withdraw money. On their way home, the police vehicle hit her, leading to her tragic death.
Ugorji accused the police of attempting to distort the facts by falsely claiming that their vehicle had somersaulted.
“Anyone who sees the car at the station can tell that their story is untrue. They are trying to cover up their actions to avoid responsibility,” he alleged.
The grieving father described his daughter as his first child and expressed his devastation over the loss. He questioned why law enforcement officers, whose duty is to uphold justice and protect lives, would choose to hide the truth.
“I was at work in Ogba when I received the heartbreaking news that my daughter had been killed by officers chasing a suspect,” he said.
“These are people responsible for safeguarding lives and ensuring law and order—how can they fabricate a story about the car somersaulting when nothing of the sort happened? They know exactly what they did to my child. They have families too—would they wish this on their own children?” he asked.
Ugorji said his daughter’s body would be taken to their hometown in Abia State for burial.
He called on President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Women Affairs, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure those responsible for his daughter’s death are held accountable.
“I am a poor man. Where will I find the money to transport her remains to the village for burial? It is painful that those entrusted with our protection are the ones harming us,” he lamented.
Appealing to the public, he said, “I want justice for my daughter.”
When SaharaReporters reached out to Lagos State Police Command spokesperson SP Benjamin Hundeyin, he stated, “I am not aware of this case. I will investigate, and if there are any updates, I will provide them.”
