A female police inspector, Mercy Bassey, has died after she was reportedly knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while performing route-lining duties ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s arrival in Lagos.
Bassey, who was attached to the Ikotun Divisional Police Station, was reportedly hit by a black Toyota Highlander SUV at the Adekunle Intersection on the Third Mainland Bridge, inward Lagos Island, on Tuesday.
A security source who spoke with PUNCH Metro on Wednesday said the incident occurred at about 2:30pm while the inspector was deployed for route-lining duty in preparation for the President’s movement through the state.
According to the source, the SUV struck Bassey while she was crossing the bridge before the driver sped away from the scene.
“The registration number of the vehicle and the driver are not yet known. The vehicle sped off after hitting the officer. The vehicle was chased by patrolmen on duty but escaped to an unknown destination,” the source said.
Bassey was subsequently rushed to the General Hospital, Ebute Metta, for medical attention.
However, she reportedly died while awaiting treatment.
“The victim was rushed to General Hospital, Ebute Metta, but later died while awaiting treatment. The corpse will be moved to a morgue in Yaba for preservation,” the source added.
Police authorities were said to have commenced efforts to identify the vehicle and apprehend the driver.
CCTV footage from the area is reportedly being sought as part of the investigation.
Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the incident when contacted but declined to provide further details.
“We don’t want to comment on the matter at the moment,” she said.
As of the time of filing this report, the registration number of the SUV and the identity of its driver remained unknown.
Bassey’s death occurred amid heightened security operations across Lagos as security agencies deployed personnel for the movement of President Tinubu, who arrived in the state on Tuesday after spending part of his vacation in France.
The President had returned to Nigeria after concluding his working vacation in the United Kingdom and France.
His aircraft landed at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at about 6:22pm on Tuesday.
