By Akinwale Kasali
For a visitor to Ile Iwe, en-route Command area of Oke Odo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, the heavy presence of armed Policemen, Armoured Tanks, Vans and Military presence would send fear into ones spine. It could be likened to a war zone.
Passers by had to raise up their hands to be screened by the Security officials before passage to that axis is permitted.
Reason for this tight security is the alleged plot by some aggrieved youths, planning to burn down the Police Divisional Headquarter at White House in the Command area over the killing of a Tricyclist and a young apprentice who was hit by a stray bullet by trigger happy Police Officer attached to the White House Police Station.
The irate youths were said to have gathered at the gate of the Station, threatening fire and brimstone, before they were dispersed with tear gas and shots in the air.
Noticing that the irate youths may regroup and come with force, the Police mobilized their Men, and Soldiers attached to the Command Military Barracks to forestall any breach of law and order.
It was gathered that the Tricyclist stabbed by the Police Officer has a heavily pregnant wife, who has now become a widow, with the expectant baby fatherless.
Also, the young apprentice hit by stray bullet was said to be an apprentice vulcanzier, whose family are yet to come to terms with his sudden demise.
Condemning the killing, the Committee For The Defence Of Human Rights, CDHR, Lagos State Chapter, said it is disheartening that the Police meant to safeguard lives and properties are the one taking innocent lives.
CDHR demanded for the arrest and prosecution of the yet-to-be identified Police Officer who allegedly killed the Tricyclist for refusing his demand for N100 and the young boy killed by a stray bullet.
Reacting to the issue on Friday, November 5th 2021, CDHR stated that there was no justification for killing the tricycle rider who was on a legitimate business to feed his family.
In a statement signed by Comrade Kehinde Adeoye and Comrade Bello A. Mufutau, for CDHR, the chapter’s Chairman and Secretary respectively, the civil society group frowned at the carelessness with which security agents, especially the Police sniff life out of unsuspecting and innocent citizens.
It called on the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, to investigate the issue and bring the Culprits to book and face the wrath of the law.
CDHR in a statement titled ‘Extra Judicial Killing: A Case Of A Young Tricycle Rider Stabbed To Death By A Nigerian Police Officer’ reads in full:
“CDHR condemns the gruesome killing of a young Nigerian who was looking for his daily bread and how to make his life better but was killed by a rogue, scalawag and inhumane Nigerian police officer.
“This unfortunate incident took place today, Thursday, 4th of November, 2021, along Command, Meiran, Lagos State.
The manner in which the poor youngster was unjustly killed is very gruesome and with impunity.
“There cannot be a justification for this gruesome extra judicial murder, we ask, which law provides death penalty for a traffic offence?
“It is very clear that the unworthy Nigerian police officer feels that he is above the law.
This feeling of impunity by the supposed law officers should be put on check and immediately.
“We despise and condemn wholeheartedly this unjustifiable extra judicial killing by the Nigerian police officer of a hardworking and law abiding youth.
“The #EndSARS revolt of 2020 is still fresh in our memories, it was police brutality, injustice and extra judicial killings that fueled it. It seems that nothing was learnt from the protest.
“We hereby demand a thorough private investigation, immediate arrest of the rogue policeman and his prosecution.
While adequate compensation should be paid to the victim, we join the clarion call for a total overhaul of the Nigerian police”, the statement reads.
In the same vein, the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, condemned such heinous crime by the Police Officers, saying that the Police Officers must be fished out, arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.
In a statement signed by NAOSRE President and Secretary, Femi Oyewale and Oluwatosin Osho respectively, it demanded that the alleged yet-to-be identified Police Officer must be fished out and prosecuted.
NAOSRE said that the killing was extra judicial, Police brutality, abuse of fundamental human rights and injustice, which are what formed the demand of Nigerians during the #EndSARS protest.
“This issue must not be swept under the carpet. The Lagos State Police Command must produce the culprits and made to be prosecuted. We appeal to the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, to interfere and set up a panel to thoroughly investigate this killing, so as to forestall further occurrences”, NAOSRE stated.
