#EndSARS: How Alaba trader was shot and whisked away to unknown destination

The family of Eche Israel, an electronic dealer at the Alaba International Market, Ojo, has raised alarm over the whereabouts of Eche, who was allegedly shot and whisked away by operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS.

Reports gathered have it that the 30-year-old dealer was shot in the Mile 2 area of Lagos State while heading home from work on a motorcycle when he was stopped by the officers.

Eche was subsequently shot in the waist after the victim queried why the officers stopped him and asking the motorcyclist to move on.

According to eyewitnesses, the officers repeatedly shot in the air to scare away residents, who had thronged the scene, after which he was alleged bundled in the boot of the car the SARS men brought.

Mary Israel, who happens to be a cousin to the victim, said a family friend, who witnessed the shooting, called the attention of the family to the incident.

According to Mary, members of the family have been to different police stations in the state, including the SARS office at Ikeja, adding that Eche’s whereabouts had remained unknown.

She said, “He deals in electronics in Alaba market. He had finished the day’s work and was going to his house at Ajegunle around 6pm on Friday when the officers asked him to stop. They parked a red vehicle beside the road.

“They found a Samsung phone on him and some money. The man questioning him was not in uniform, so he argued with him and asked why he was being questioned. The policeman held him by the trousers when he asked his motorcycle rider to move on.

“They shot him in the waist. The motorcycle rider fled. He was thrown into the boot of the vehicle and the policemen drove off.

“They didn’t find anything incriminating on him. He is not a robber or a thief. He has his business and a family. He is a responsible man.”