Police react to alleged burning of 7-year-old boy to death in Lagos

The Lagos State command has reacted to the story of a 7-year-old boy reportedly burnt to death in Lagos for stealing garri.

The story was trending in the early hours of Wednesday, November 16 on social media specifically on Facebook.

The Lagos Police Command said in a statement on Thursday, said there was nothing to suggest that the incident happened at the locations locations mentioned, but said it was carrying out preliminary investigation on the incident.

The statement reads: “The Lagos Command in the early hours of 16/11/2016 came across the above report through the social media.

“Although there are different versions about the location where the incident occurred, a version of the report stated that it took place at Orile while another indicated that it happened in Badagry.

“At the receipt of this complaint, the Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Owoseni, directed the DPOs in charge of those jurisdictions to ascertain the occurrence and brief the command. The police said that as at today Thursday, November 17, there is nothing to suggest that it occurred in any of the aforementioned locations or any part of Lagos thereof.

“Preliminary investigation is  ongoing as the command is assuring the members of the public that if it actually happened in Lagos, perpetrators of such barbaric act will be arrested and prosecuted as it will not tolerate jungle justice to be meted out to anyone regardless of any offence such person has committed.

“The command hereby implores anyone with useful information that can aid investigation to kindly contact office of the Commissioner of Police through 07019014800 or that of the police public relations officer through 07019014743 and better still any of our control rooms through 767 or 112.

“The command will keep investigation open until it gets to the root of the matter. However if at the conclusion of investigation nothing indicates that such occurred within the state, it will be treated as a social media ruse.

“The command appreciates the concern and efforts of the members of the public in their support to curb crimes within the state and its environs.”