- Activists, lawyers push for police reforms
- Sanwo-Olu expresses shock, sadness, promises speedy justice for victim
- IGP condemns killing, orders speedy investigation
Nigerians have condemned the high rate of extrajudicial killing across the country, saying it calls for serious concern from everyone who believes in the sanctity of human life.
Many Nigerians on Monday expressed outrage over the death of a female lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, who was shot by an Assistant Superintendent of Police in the Ajah area of Lagos State on Christmas Day.
The police officer was attached to Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah.
The incident came barely three weeks after a young man, Gafaru Buraimoh, was shot dead by police officers attached to the same station in Lagos.
The Lagos State Police Command, on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, confirmed the arrest and detention of an Inspector of Police in the Ajah Division over the killing of a man identified as Gafaru Buraimoh residing in Happy Land Estate, Ajah.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin revealed that a “full-scale investigation” had commenced into the incident which he said occurred around 11.30 pm on Tuesday.
According to Hundeyin, the officer behind the shooting was “immediately disarmed and has been detained.”
While commiserating with the family of the deceased, the PPRO assured the public that the investigation into the immediate and remote circumstances leading to the shooting would be brought to a “speedy and conclusive end.”
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred on Wednesday morning in front of Ajiwe police station, Ajah.
It was gathered that when a crowd gathered to question the police officers, taking pictures and making videos, the officers called for backup who shot tear gas canisters at panicked civilians.
In the fresh December 25 killing, the unnamed policeman and his team were said to have tried to stop Bolanle and her family members as they drove back home from a Christmas Day church service.
Bolanle was shot when the car conveying her tried to make a U-turn under the Ajah Bridge.
The victim was rushed to a hospital but was confirmed dead.
The killing of Bolanle Raheem is one of the several incidents of police brutality and extrajudicial killings that have been recorded in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria in recent times.
Following the incident, social media influencers and human right activists have expressed their displeasure over the mindless killings of innocent citizens by the officers of the Nigerian Police Force.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, condemned in strongest terms, the alleged shooting and killing of Mrs. Bolanle Raheem.
The Governor expressed shock and sadness over the mindless shooting of “a harmless citizen” by a police officer whose primary job function was to protect the same citizen.
Sanwo-Olu sympathized with the family, friends and associates of the late Bolanle Raheem, pledging the State Government’s full support and cooperation with the police authorities in their investigation to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the shooting that led to the untimely death of the innocent citizen, with a view to ensuring that justice is served.
He said: “I have studied preliminary reports on the matter and have instructed the appropriate Government officers to immediately get on it.
We must ensure speedy justice for the late Bolanle. Our Government cannot sit back and watch our citizens killed by the same law enforcers that should ordinarily protect them.
“I’m aware that the Lagos State police command has arrested, disarmed and detained the police officers involved in the shooting incident. I can assure you that the accused persons will have their day in Court and nothing will be spared under the Laws of Lagos State until justice is served adequately. We will ensure that it is done speedily because justice delayed is justice denied.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu however appealed to residents to remain calm and not take the law into their hands on the matter, assuring Lagosians that the Government will live up to her responsibilities and get justice for the late Bolanle Raheem.
The Governor prayed for the repose of the late Bolanle Raheem’s soul, asking God to grant her immediate family and friends the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
A human right lawyer, Festus Ogun, described the incident as a recurring decimal and demanded justice for the victim.
“This unfortunate incident is not unprecedented. The police have shown consistent contempt and hatred to lawyers over the years.
The legal profession must rise in unison to avert this perilous precedent. There must be consequences for impunity.
“Lawyer Omobolanle Raheem was fatally shot dead by men of the Nigerian Police attached to Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah, Lagos. This is one death, too many. These evil and despicable men in uniform are getting emboldened with their reckless lawlessness. And lawyers are always targeted,” Ogun tweeted.
Also reacting to the incident, a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, tweeted, “A lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, is reported to have been shot and murdered at close range on Christmas Day by a rogue policeman attached to Ajiwe Police Division, Ajah. This is barbaric. It is a sad commentary that despite EndSARS, Nigerians are still being slaughtered by the police,” he said.
A human rights activist, Rinu Oduala, also condemned the incident.
“A lawyer and member of the NBA, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem has been killed by Nigerian Police officers on Christmas, on her way back from Church in Ajah, Lagos.
“She was shot in the car while her husband was beside her. After surviving a tough year, a police officer in her country killed her while she was sitting in a car beside her husband on Christmas Day.
Popular comedian, Debo Adebayo, also known as Mr. Macaroni also described Raheem’s killing as barbaric.
“A Nigerian Police Officer from Ajiwe division shot and killed Bolanle Raheem on Xmas day. It is from this same division an officer killed Gafaru Buraimoh about two weeks ago.
“This barbarism by the Nigerian Police must come to an end. These murderers must pay for their crimes,” he wrote.
Prominent human rights activist and a former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu also lent his voice to condemn the killing of Raheem.
Also, the Nigerian Bar Association has demanded that justice be served on the matter.
NBA National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal wrote, “We are aware of this unfortunate incident. This is yet another crime against a lawyer. Regrettably, our member is gone. We shall ensure that justice is duly served.”
The killing of Raheem is one of the many incidents of police brutality and extrajudicial killings that have been recorded in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria time after time.
Raheem’s killing comes just over two years after police extrajudicial killings sparked a nationwide outrage that culminated in the #EndSARS protests of October 2020 when millions of youths demanded police reforms, compensation for families of victims and punishment for trigger-happy policemen.
Similarly, the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association has demanded justice for the female lawyer, Bolanle.
In a statement released by the chairman, Ikechukwu Uwanna, on December 26, the Lagos NBA chapter said the national leadership of the association is also monitoring the situation to ensure that the matter is given all the serious attention it deserves.
“Members of our NBA Lagos Branch Human Rights Committee led by Mrs. Tam George have met with the DPO of Ajiwe Police Station, and will meet with the Commissioner of Police later today (December 26) to emphasize our mandate of ensuring that justice is neither delayed nor denied,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, on Monday, condemned the shooting and killing of Raheem.
The IGP, who described the incident as unfortunate and sad, ordered speedy investigation and prosecution of the officers responsible for the ugly and unprofessional act, Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement.
The IGP said the act doesn’t portray the Nigeria Police Standard Operating Procedure and core values.
“In the same vein, the IGP 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,” the statement read.
Reacting to the incident, the spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident but described it as “unfortunate and avoidable”.
“The ASP that shot and two others with him have since been taken into custody,” Hundeyin tweeted on Monday, December 26.
He also said the policemen will be moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti for further investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi, has been in touch with the family and the Nigerian Bar Association since yesterday and has given firm assurances that justice will definitely prevail,” he added.
