•HURIWA Demands Immediate Prosecution Of Trigger-happy Officer
The murder of a female lawyer and real estate consultant, OmoBolanle Raheem while returning from a Christmas Day service with her family at Ajah under the bridge in Lagos state has taken another dimension as Lawyers took to the streets to protest the death of their female colleague.
Lawyers from the Lagos branch of the Nigerian bar association, including the leaders of Eti Osa Lawyers Forum had a brief meeting with the DPO of Ajiwe police station in Ajah, Adolf Ogwu, where the officers are stationed, The aggrieved lawyers were informed that the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti and is currently before the Commissioner of Police.
Lagos police public relations officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, has confirmed the incident.
He said the ASP, (name withheld) has been arrested along with two other police officers and that they have been taken into custody.
The vice chairperson of the NBA lagos branch who led the delegation, Abiye Tam George, in her response called for transparency in prosecuting the case.
The lawyers are now proceeding to the home of their deceased colleague to pay a condolence visit.
Eyewitnesses report has it that the officer was visibly drunk and all entreaties from his colleagues to allow the lady’s husband who was driving the car to go proved abortive.
While the lady’s husband was looking for a space to park his car, the officer shot at the vehicle and the bullet hit the deceased in her chest and she reportedly died on the spot.
Meanwhile, Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) on Monday, condemned the killing of the female lawyer.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement warned the police not to cover up the identity of the culprit, an Assistant Superintendent of Police but reveal his name and photo to the public. The group also demanded the immediate prosecution of the principal “murderer”.
According to reports, Raheem was shot dead in a car when she and her family members drove back home from a Christmas Day church service and tried to make a U-turn under the Ajah Bridge.
The spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin already confirmed the incident, saying justice will prevail.
HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “It is very unfortunate that trigger-happy policemen continue to send young innocent Nigerians to early graves and the authorities continue to look the other way.
“The killing of Raheem is particularly painful because officers from the same Ajiwe police station in Ajah on December 6, 2022 also shot dead Gafaru Buraimoh, a resident of Happy Land estate in Ajah.
“HURIWA condemns these heinous assassinations and demand the immediate prosecution of the murderers involved. It is still unthinkable how a family was served the killing of their daughter as a Christmas Day and Boxing Day gift. This is the height of callousness and inhumanity of police officers despite the October 2020 nationwide protests against police brutality and extrajudicial killings.
“A report released in 2021 by a human rights group, the Centre for Democracy and Development said over 13,000 Nigerians were extrajudicially killed by security agents in the last 10 years.
“Extrajudicial killings by security agents have reached alarming decibel and must be stopped forthwith! The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba; and President Muhammadu Buhari should stop these carnivorous consumption of young, innocent Nigerians by trigger-happy and dark-hearted security agents. “
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has also condemned the shooting and killing of Mrs Omobolanle Raheem, a lawyer who was allegedly shot and killed by a Policeman.
The IGP, who described the incident as unfortunate and sad, has ordered speedy investigation and prosecution of the officers responsible for the ugly and unprofessional act, which doesn’t portray the Nigeria Police Standard Operating Procedure and core values.
IGP Baba however commiserates with the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased as he prays for the repose of her soul. He further assures the general public of justice in the case while he warns officers and men of the Force to be professional and people-oriented in the discharge of their duties and operate within the ambit of the law, as the Force’s leadership will not condone any inappropriate or unprofessional acts.
