The Presidency has disclosed that culprits who allegedly killed Kolade Johnson in a recent fatal shooting in Lagos have been arrested, and are undergoing disciplinary procedures.
It reacted just as the Senate declared its commitment to the passage of the Police Reform Bill “to ensure that the Police Force is more efficient and responsive to the needs of all Nigerians.”
In fact, The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, announced that the Report of the Police Reform Bill would be laid before the Senate by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs next week Tuesday.
While expressing its condolences to the family of the deceased, the Presidency assured that the culprits would be penalised.
Johnson, a chef, the only child of his parents and a father of one, was allegedly killed on March 31 in Lagos by stray bullets from one of the anti-cultism police officers while watching a football match at a viewing centre, an action which has attracted wide condemnation in the country.
The Presidency said in its Twitter handle that the police have assured that the team members involved in the fatal shooting have been arrested and are undergoing disciplinary procedure.
Reacting, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, said that the 8th Senate remains committed to the Police Reform Bill.
He made this comment as part of a series of tweets in reaction to the killing of Kolade Johnson by alleged SARS operatives.
His words: “My heartfelt prayers are with the family and friends of Kolade Johnson, the young football fan who was allegedly killed by men of the Nigeria Police in Mangoro/Onipetesi community in Lagos.
“Issues like the senseless killings, assault, and extortion of everyday Nigerians by some ‘bad apples’ in the Police Force is what prompted @NGRSenate to introduce and fast-track the progression of the #PoliceReformBill.
“I have also been in contact with the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs and I am pleased to announce that the Report of the #PoliceReformBill will be laid by next week Tuesday.
“Make no mistake, the 8th Senate remains committed to the passage of the #PoliceReformBill to ensure that our Police Force is more efficient and responsive to the needs of all Nigerians.”
The Presidency said in its tweet: Presidency Nigeria✔@NGRPresident
“Deepest Condolences to the family and friends of Kolade Johnson, victim of the March 31 fatal shooting in Lagos. @PoliceNG have assured that the Team suspected of involvement in the shooting have been apprehended & are undergoing disciplinary procedure. Updates will be provided.”
In its reaction, spokesman of the Lagos State police command, Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed that the team who killed Johnson have been apprehended.
His words: “At about 5:05p.m. the command received a distress call that Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway has been blocked by some angry youths who were protesting against the shooting of one Kolade Johnson of No.1 Beco Street, Onipetesi, Mangoro bus-stop by a team of policemen from the Anti-Cultism unit.
“A team of policemen from the Rapid Response Squads and Metro patrol were promptly drafted to the scene. The account of eyewitnesses helped in identifying the team, which fled the scene immediately after the incident. Members of the team suspected to be involved in the shooting have since been arrested and are currently in police custody undergoing interrogation.
“They will be subjected to internal disciplinary procedures, and may be prosecuted in conventional court if implicated by ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, CP Zubairu Muazu, calls for calm, assuring that justice will prevail in this case. The Commissioner of Police also condoles with the family, friends and well-wishers of Kolade Johnson.
“Members of the public who have complaints on the activities of Anti Cultism Squad or any of our police teams should call the following numbers 08063299264, 08065154338 and 08060357795”.R
This is coming on the heels of the national outrage with Nigerians insisting that the identity of the killers must be revealed.
Reactions by Nigerians on Twitter are as follows:
“Parade the officers like you parade other criminals. You even parade “suspected” criminals. The ones that killed Mr Kolade are confirmed criminals. #ParadeKoladesKillers#paradeKoladeskillers
We want to know their names and see their pictures published.
Only a murderous Police Force will shield the identities of the killers.Nigeria Police Force✔@PoliceNGReplying to @PoliceNGMembers of the team suspected to be involved in the shooting have since been arrested and are currently in Police custody undergoing interrogation.1
I repeat the @PoliceNG anti cultism unit Gbagada has gone berserk and are out for blood. Alot of innocent young Nigerians with potentials languishing in their cell there. If they can’t afford what the police is demanding for, they charge them to court for an offence not committed587:40 AM – Apr 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy215 people are talking about this
Before now, there have been calls by citizens of Nigeria to put an end to SARS. In December, the Buhari-led administration announced a reformation of the group promising that it will ensure that it is held accountable and its employees undergo extensive training.
Nigeria Police Force✔@PoliceNG
POLICE TEAM SUSPECTED TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE SHOOTING OF KOLADE JOHNSON IS NOW IN OUR CUSTUDY….. CP LAGOS COMMAND ASSURES JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL #AskThePolice3,1986:55 PM – Apr 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy3,905 people are talking about this
Several notable individuals have expressed their sympathy with the family:
Abubakar Bukola Saraki✔@bukolasaraki
My heartfelt prayers are with the family and friends of Kolade Johnson, the young football fan who was allegedly killed by men of the Nigerian Police in Mangoro/Onipetesi community in Lagos.Channels Television✔@channelstvBREAKING: Police Arrest Suspected Killers Of Kolade Johnson, Vow To Ensure Justice. http://bit.ly/2U7Fd2u 2,5609:54 PM – Apr 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy1,447 people are talking about this
Meanwhile, the convener of the #EndSARS campaign, Segun Awosanya, popularly known as Segalink, has said that this “would be the end of the fashion police”
He wrote:
“Now that the recalcitrant Anti Cultism acting as Criminal Fashion @PoliceNG have started killing our youth in the bid to intimidate, abduct and rob them of money, we will ensure this is the last time that unit operates. The end has come. We implore the public to help us get the contact of any of the family members of the victim so that we can reach out and help them through this. This would be the end of the fashion police.”
Some musicians, Ruggedman and Simi, who called out the Nigerian police were blocked by the head of Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit, Abayomi Shogunle. Ruggedman is also a police ambassador.
