Lagos police sergeant dies after being dragged by car during stop-and-search

A 20-year-old driver has been arrested in Lagos after allegedly knocking down a police sergeant during a stop-and-search operation and dragging him for several metres, Lagos Police Commissioner Fatai Tijani said. The officer later died of his injuries.

How it happened

Tijani briefed journalists at the command headquarters on Monday, 28 September. He said officers were carrying out routine stop-and-search duties when the incident happened.

According to the commissioner, the driver initially complied and stopped after being flagged down. He then suddenly sped off, knocking down one of the officers. The officer was dragged underneath the vehicle for several metres before other policemen gave chase and arrested the driver.

Officer dies of his injuries

The sergeant sustained multiple fractures and other serious injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and later referred to another facility, but he did not survive, Tijani said. His body has been deposited at a mortuary, and the vehicle has been recovered as part of the investigation.

Speaking to journalists at the briefing, the driver said his car’s brakes had failed and that he hit the officer by accident, Pulse Nigeria reported. The police account and the driver’s claim have not been tested in court.

What the police said

Tijani described the incident as unfortunate, stressing that officers are deployed to protect lives and property and to prevent crime. He said stop-and-search operations remain a key part of conventional policing that complements intelligence-led efforts.

He appealed to motorists to comply with lawful instructions during such operations rather than trying to evade them, and urged members of the public who witness police misconduct to report it through the proper channels instead of obstructing officers. He called for mutual respect and cooperation between the police and the public, saying effective crime prevention depends on community support.