Lagos: Right Groups, CDHR, NAOSRE Demand Prosecution Of Police Officer Who Killed Tricyclist, Young Boy

By Akinwale Kasali

The pandemonium that enveloped the Police Area Command  in Oke Odo Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, is gradually easing up as normalcy has returned to the area, but activities in the Command’s Divisional Police Headquarter are skeletal.

However, the Committee For The Defence Of Human Rights, CDHR, has condemned the killings of a  Tricyclist and a young boy by Police Officers assigned to the Police Division.

CDHR has, therefore, 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 tragedy 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 the same vein, the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, in a statement signed by Comrade Kehinde Adeoye and Comrade Bello A. Mufutau, the chapter’s Chairman and Secretary respectively, frowned at the carelessness with which security agents, especially the Police snuff out life from unsuspecting and innocent citizens.

It called on the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, to investigate the incident and bring the Culprits to book.

The statement by CDHR 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.”

Both fatalities were recorded on Thursday in Lagos. The consequence was the destruction of a Police Patrol van. It took the intervention of soldiers to save the Policemen involved, as well as save the offices of the Police division.