Photo: Man Shot By Drunken Policeman Loses Left Eye

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 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 PUNCH 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. However, Ozoemena’s lawyer, Mr. George Nwahajioke, said the police must compensate his client to the tune of N100m.