Lagos NURTW Official Recounts Ordeal After Alleged Stabbing by Police Inspector
Kehinde Adeleye
A 38-year-old member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Rasheed Olowolayemo, has recounted how he was allegedly stabbed by a serving police inspector during a dispute at a commercial transport park in Bariga, Lagos.
Olowolayemo is currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Oyingbo, after being referred from Gbagada General Hospital, where he was initially taken following the incident on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
The victim reportedly lost a significant amount of blood from a deep stab wound to his stomach.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Olowolayemo said the incident occurred while he was attempting to resolve a disagreement between two commercial drivers over loading rights at the park.
He said he was carrying out his duties as a branch official when Inspector Njoku Augustine, who is attached to Falomo Police Hospital, arrived at the scene around 4pm.
“I was at our park in Bariga around 4pm. There was a small misunderstanding between two drivers. One said the other took his turn. I was trying to settle it peacefully because that is my job as official. Then Inspector Njoku came. I thought he came to help settle the matter because he is police and people respect police,” he said.
Olowolayemo alleged that the inspector suddenly stabbed him with a knife during the argument, leaving him bleeding heavily.
“I did not know he had a knife. I did not see any knife in his hand. We were just talking. Suddenly I just felt a sharp pain in my stomach. I looked down, blood was everywhere, soaking my shirt. People started shouting, ‘Blood, blood’. If boys at the park did not rush me, put me on bike and take me to Gbagada hospital, I would have died,” he recounted.
Medical personnel at FMC Oyingbo, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reportedly said Olowolayemo was brought in in critical condition but had since stabilised and was responding to treatment after emergency care.
His wife, Rukayat Olowolayemo, a petty trader, has remained by his bedside since the incident.
She said her husband left home that morning to earn money for their family before she received a call informing her that he had been stabbed and taken to hospital.
“My husband left home in the morning to go and look for daily bread. He told me ‘I will come back in evening.’ Next thing, someone called me that my husband has been stabbed by police and is in hospital. My heart cut. If not for police from Bariga Division who came quickly after the distress call and helped, I don’t know what would have happened to him,” she said.
Olowolayemo, who has worked in the transport sector for 12 years and has three children, said the incident had left him physically and emotionally shaken.
He expressed disappointment over the alleged attack, saying he had always respected and cooperated with police officers.
“I respect police. I always cooperate with them. I never thought a police officer would stab me like a criminal. I am not a criminal. I am just a transport worker. I just want justice and I want government to make sure this does not happen to another person,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that Inspector Njoku Augustine is in custody over the incident.
The Command also said the jackknife allegedly used in the attack had been recovered and registered as an exhibit, while investigation and disciplinary proceedings had commenced.
The police spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, assured the public that justice would be served and urged residents to remain calm.
