Female police inspector Mercy Bassey has died after she was reportedly hit by a black Highlander SUV during route-lining duty ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s arrival in Lagos on Tuesday.
Bassey, attached to the Ikotun Divisional Police Station, was crossing the Third Mainland Bridge at Adekunle Intersection, inward Lagos Island, when the incident occurred.
A security source said the vehicle’s registration number and the driver’s identity were unknown. The driver reportedly fled after the crash, despite being chased by patrolmen.
The source said, “Yesterday, at about 2:30pm, while on route lining for the Presidential movement, Inspector Mercy Bassey, attached to Ikotun Divisional Police Station, Lagos, was hit by a black Highlander SUV while crossing the Third Mainland Bridge at Adekunle Intersection, inward Lagos Island, Lagos.
“The registration number of the vehicle and the driver are not yet known. The vehicle sped off after hitting the officer. The vehicle was chased by patrolmen on duty but escaped to an unknown destination.”
Bassey was taken to General Hospital, Ebute Metta, but died while awaiting treatment. Her remains will be moved to a morgue in Yaba.
Police are seeking CCTV footage to identify the vehicle and driver.
Lagos police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi confirmed the incident, saying, “We don’t want to comment on the matter at the moment,” she said.
Tinubu arrived in Lagos on Tuesday after his stay in France. His aircraft landed at the Presidential Wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at 6.22pm.
