By Robert AKPAN, Senior Investigator Correspondent, Lagos/
LAGOS- COMMISSIONER of Police Lagos State Police Command, CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi has been ordered to take over the investigation of the shooting incident at a popular club in Lagos Island involving security detail attached to the Nigerian celebrated singer, Damini Ogulu alias Burna Boy in which some clubbers were injured.
Already five policemen attached to the singer had been detained and were being grilled on the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident. A statement by the State Police spokesperson, SP Ben Hundeyin made available to CrimeWorld magazine online said, took place last Wednesday while the singer was at the club and was making love overture at a lady who was at the club with her man. Hundeyin claimed that the police had not received any complaint from any victim.
The Police personnel alleged and identified in the shooting incident at Club Cubana in Victoria Island, Lagos on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, have been taken into custody and were being investigated for their involvement in the incident.
He added that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, who describes the circumstances surrounding the incident as unbelievable, has however condemned, in the strongest terms, the unfortunate incident. Consequently, the IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Abiodun Alabi, to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter and forward his report as urgent as possible for further action.
He said, “Five policemen attached to Nigerian singer, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy have been detained by the Lagos police command for attempted murder after they shot two fun-seekers. The victims were identified as Irebami Lawrence and Tolu.
The shooting incident reportedly occurred at Club Cubana on Victoria Island, Lagos, on Wednesday, Sunday Punch reports. It was learnt that Burna Boy was laughing while the incident occurred and immediately left for Spain.
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A preliminary report by the Bar Beach Police Division said trouble started when the singer and five police escorts visited the night club around 4am on June 8. It was learnt that about four policemen waited outside while one of the policemen, identified as Inspector Ibrahim, who was in mufti, accompanied the Grammy-Award-winning artiste into the club.
According to multiple witness statements, the singer was in the VIP section with three women when he spotted another woman. He was reported to have told Ibrahim to invite the woman to join him. However, the lady’s husband was said to have lambasted the singer, insisting that it was disrespectful for any man to make advances on his wife.
After some minutes, Burna Boy reportedly made fresh advances at the woman. This infuriated her husband further and his friends who had gathered at the club. As things were getting heated, Ibrahim brought out his service pistol and shot multiple times while Burna Boy was laughing,” said a senior policeman.
In the process, 27-year-old Lawrence was shot on the thigh while his friend, Tolu, was hit in the head by a bullet. This caused a commotion in the club. It was learnt that Burna Boy and his crew then drove off to one of his properties at the Elegushi end of the Lekki-Epe Expressway before leaving for Lekki Phase 1.
Aware of what he had done, Burna Boy took the next flight out without even informing the policemen. He only made a video call to them to inform them that he had travelled to Spain. All his police escorts have been arrested and are currently at the Command headquarters, Ikeja for interrogation.”
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In the meantime, sources close to the victims said the police were trying to protect the Grammy Award winner because of his status while the victims were treating their wounds at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
A brother of Irebami, one of the victims, Jide, said his brother had undergone surgery to remove the bullet lodged in his thigh. Jide said Irebami is based in the US, and only came to Nigeria a week ago for a wedding. According to him, the management of Club Cubana was also complicit for not doing enough to forestall the situation. He said the club management had not even reached out to the family since the incident occurred.
Burna Boy’s manager, who is also his mother, Bose Ogulu, did not respond to inquiries.
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