Lagos Police Sergeant Johnson Okediji Dies After Being Dragged Under Vehicle in Egbeda
A Lagos State Police sergeant, Johnson Okediji, has died after he was allegedly knocked down and dragged underneath a vehicle during a stop-and-search operation in the Egbeda area of Lagos State.
The incident occurred at about 2:20 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2026, along Olugbede Street, Egbeda, according to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai.
Police officers conducting the operation reportedly flagged down a Lexus ES 350, with registration number FKJ 223 KX. According to the police account, the driver initially stopped but allegedly accelerated as Sergeant Okediji approached the driver's side.
The commissioner said the officer was knocked down and dragged beneath the vehicle for several metres, despite attempts by other police officers and passers-by to get the driver to stop.
The driver was eventually chased and arrested, while the vehicle was recovered by the police. Okediji reportedly sustained multiple fractures and serious head injuries in the incident.
The injured sergeant was rushed to a nearby hospital and later referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
His remains were subsequently deposited at the Mainland Hospital Mortuary for preservation and autopsy, according to the police.
The suspect, identified in reports as Olusola Olumide, a young phone and gadget seller, has denied deliberately hitting the police officer.
Olumide reportedly told journalists after his arrest that the vehicle's brakes failed while he was attempting to stop. He said he had taken the Lexus to a mechanic shortly before the incident to have its brake pads replaced.
According to his account, he was trying to bring the vehicle to a stop when it hit another vehicle and subsequently struck Sergeant Okediji.
The police account and the suspect's explanation therefore differ on what caused the fatal incident. Police have said investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the officer's death.
The death of Sergeant Okediji has drawn attention to the risks faced by police officers during roadside enforcement and stop-and-search operations.
The incident also highlights the importance of establishing the facts through investigation, particularly where the police account and the suspect's account differ.