Ambode probes police for snubbing dying man on Third Mainland Bridge

The police didn't want the man's blood to stain their new car. Photo: Ibilola Essien. — The police didn’t want the man’s blood to stain their new car. Photo: Ibilola Essien.

The government has launched a probe into why police officers reportedly refused helping a dying man on a popular bridge in Lagos State.

The man, who appeared to be the victim of a hit and run driver, lay bleeding on Third Mainland Bridge on Tuesday.

Ilsa Aida was at the scene and tried to help. Her kid brother even risked his safety by trekking on the bridge to find help.

But when some police officers arrived the scene in one of their new cars, they called a seemingly superior official who reportedly instructed them not to put the bleeding man in the new vehicle.

READ:

OMG! Police refuse saving dying man because “his blood will stain our new patrol car”

.@AkinwunmiAmbode has ordered that the accident reported by @IlsaAida be investigated while the victim is being taken care of via @LAGOSGMT1
— B. (@zebbook) December 10, 2015

The alleged reason was that the man’s blood would stain the new seats.

Aida, who shared the story on social media, said she broke down in tears after hearing that.

“The reality was that the new police car was worth more than the Nigerian life,” Aida said.

“I broke down in tears at this point,” she said.

Aida and her brother waited till the man was taken to hospital. An official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) also played his part in the rescue mission.

Aida: "Don't get into an accident near any of these vehicles." — Aida: “Don’t get into an accident near any of these vehicles.”

But several police officers and some Nigerian soldiers reportedly passed by, saw the man, yet refused to help.

And the police officers who stopped to asses the situation apparently didn’t want blood stains on their new car.

The Lagos State government said it has launched a probe into the incident which suggests the police have no regard for the lives of the common man.

The Akinwunmi Ambode government also said it is committed to ensuring the victim regains his health in hospital.

“Lagosians will no longer take excuses,” Ambode told Lagos police after the government gave new cars, two helicopters and other vehicles to the force.

Ambode’s aim was to help the police curb the spike in robberies in the state and, of course, protect every Lagos resident.

The police officers who came to the accident scene on Tuesday didn’t seem to understand that reality.