Lagos Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni Thursday condemned the action of a Sergeant who was reported to have killed a truck driver at Apapa.

The Sergeant attached to the Police Mobile Force (PMF) 23, had shot dead a driver, who allegedly stabbed him for insisting that his truck is removed from the bank’s entrance.

In reaction, his colleagues gathered themselves and torched two banks in the process.

Owoseni, who visited the scene Wednesday afternoon, told reporters Thursday that the Sergeant acted “on his own” and has been taken into custody, The Nation reports.

He said despite that the policeman was stabbed; the gun given to him was not to be used at will.

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Owoseni said, “It was an unfortunate incident. Like we said before, the policeman in question has been taken into custody and currently being guarded in the hospital because he was stabbed. As of this morning, he was taken to the theatre for surgery.

“That notwithstanding, the provisions of extant regulations of the police would be applied in dealing with the situation.

“Without justifying their actions, I think the reaction from the drivers was as a result of bottled up anger. Some of them left their families to load at the port with the expectation to return within two days, only to spend one week there.

“But that does not mean they should take laws into their hands. What they did was brazen lawlessness. We appeal to the public that when things happen like that, the rule of law should be allowed to take its course.

“The police are at the forefront of cleansing institutional rot and we would continue to do that. No policeman is given a gun to shoot at will. That officer is not one of us. He acted in his capacity as an individual, not for the police.

“The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been very clear on this. He abhors lawlessness and has zero tolerance for cops who do not keep to the tenets of standard policing.

“I apologise to the public for the act of misconduct exhibited by that policeman. We would continue to ensure training and retraining of our personnel so that they discharge their responsibilities within the ambit of the law.”

On the extent of damage done to the banks, Owoseni said it would be hasty to give statistics since the banks were still taking stocks.

“The banks are in the position to say what the lost. But from my assessment when I visited the place, no staff of the banks was hurt. They quickly evacuated.

“I can tell you that three vehicles were vandalised, and the banks were partially burnt,” said Owoseni.

The police chief said persons arrested were being screened so that those innocent would not be punished unjustly.

He said, “There were some people with legitimate businesses there. Some of them are truck or motor boys that sleep in the park. But there are those who had no business there and only came to take advantage of the situation.

“They are hoodlums who came to infiltrate the area and get engaged in violence or looting. Those ones would be dealt with. We are still taking stocks and so, we cannot tell you right now, those who have been screened.

“In mob actions like that, there is every possibility that innocent people would be arrested. We do not want a situation where innocent people would be punished unjustifiably.”