Lagos Mother Seeks Justice Over Toddler’s Death In Police Shooting

The mother of a 20-month-old girl allegedly killed by a police bullet in the Ajegunle area of Lagos State has demanded justice, insisting that the officer responsible for her daughter’s death must not go unpunished.

The deceased, Omole Taiwo, also known as Tayelolu, was hit by a bullet allegedly discharged by a police officer during an operation in the Nosamu area of Ajegunle on November 5, 2026.

The Lagos State Police Command had confirmed that an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Omotayo Olajide, was involved in the shooting, adding that he had been disarmed and detained pending an investigation.

Speaking in a video interview published by News Central on Tuesday, the victim’s mother, Bintu Omole, recounted how the incident happened, disputing the circumstances surrounding the police operation.

She said she was seated with other people in a shop when they heard the siren of a police vehicle before it suddenly sped into their area.

According to her, an officer brought out his firearm and fired in their direction, although she initially thought the police had discharged tear gas.

“I just kept hearing the siren from the police vehicle. We were seated in our shop and were not bothered because we were not on the main road.

“Then we noticed the police vehicle speeding into our area. An officer brought out his gun from the vehicle and fired in our direction. I initially thought they had fired tear gas,” she said.

Bintu, who disclosed that her daughter had a twin who died shortly after birth, described the loss as particularly painful, recalling the difficulties she endured during pregnancy.

“My daughter has a twin, but we lost the twin (Kehinde) shortly after their birth. The pain I went through during pregnancy was not easy,” she said.

Demanding accountability, the bereaved mother said the police in the Ajeromi area had subjected her to immense emotional pain.

“The police in Ajeromi have made me cry.

“I don’t want the police officer involved to go unpunished. May God arise and fight for Tayelolu. Her death must not be in vain,” she appealed.

The victim’s father, Femi Omole, also disputed the police account that officers were responding to a violent clash between rival groups when the shooting occurred.

He insisted that there was no fight in Nosamu on the night of the incident.

“No, there was no fight in Nosamu on that day. Even when there was a fight (in previous times), the police don’t go there to shoot,” he said.

However, the police had said preliminary findings indicated that officers were deployed to the area following a distress call over a violent clash between two rival groups, identified as the Nosamu Boys and the Alayabiagba Boys.

The groups were reportedly fighting over toll collection and were armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons when the police team arrived.

According to the Command, Olajide discharged his firearm during the operation, hitting two girls.

Both victims were taken to Ajeromi General Hospital, while one was subsequently transferred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, where she later died.

The second victim is receiving medical attention and is said to be in stable condition.

In a statement issued on November 7 by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, the Command expressed sadness over the incident and confirmed the officer’s detention.

It said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough and impartial investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and determine appropriate legal and disciplinary actions.

The Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, also visited the bereaved family to offer his condolences, assuring them that justice would be served.

He vowed that no police officer found culpable would be shielded from accountability.