. IGP orders swift investigation . . Sanwo-Olu, NBA seek justice
. Sister shares deceased’s last words
. Police detain officer over man’s killing
A female lawyer identified as Mrs Omobolanle Raheem, has been shot dead allegedly by a police officer in the Ajah area of Lagos State.
Mrs Raheem, a member of the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), was reportedly shot in the chest at close range under Ajah Bridge on Christmas Day.
The lawyer and her husband were said to be returning home in the family car after church service when some policemen on stop-and-search duty under the bridge ordered them to park.
Mrs Raheem’s husband, who was driving, waited for the car in front of them to move so he could park, it was said.
Just then, one of the policemen fired at the car, hitting Mrs Raheem in the chest, it was learnt.
The incident took place in the Ajiwe area of Ajah community near the Ajiwe Police Station.
After the fatal shot, the policemen reportedly fled the scene.
The suspected killer officer now identified as ASP Drambi Vandi and two members of his team have been arrested and taken into custody, it was said yesterday.
ASP Vandi was also said to have been in the police force for 33 years.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Usman, has ordered a swift and comprehensive investigation into the killing of the lady lawyer.
IGP Usman said the murder was unfortunate and sad, adding that it negated the Service’s Standard Operating Procedure and core values.
A colleague of the deceased lawyer wrote: “My boss Barr Omobolanle Raheem was shot dead today (Christmas Day), by a police officer on her way back from Christmas service at Ajah Under-bridge. Her family just called me now, saying they need a lawyer to stand in for them before the police change the narrative.
“They have taken the matter to Ajiwe Police Station. The police officer is from Ajiwe station. Her husband was the one driving, Barr. Omobolanle was seated in the front with her husband.
“The officer asked them to park and they needed the vehicle in front to move so they could park properly, and immediately, the police officer shot at close range right into her chest.
“After a while, some policemen came and moved her body to the mortuary in Yaba, without obtaining any consent from her family members.
“Currently her family has located where they moved her body to.”
Police spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, described the incident as unfortunate and avoidable.
He confirmed that the alleged shooter and two others were in detention and would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for further action.
“Unfortunate and avoidable incident that was. The ASP that shot and two others with him have since been taken into custody. They are to be moved to the SCID for further investigation,” he said.
One unconfirmed account said the deceased was an expectant mother when she was killed.
“Gbenga the bullet has gone through my body, it hit my chest. The policeman has shot me.”
Those were the last words of Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, 41, before she gave up the ghost.
Her last moments were relived by her sister, Mrs. Enemah Titilayo Faliat, who was in the same car with her when the incident occurred at Ajiwe area of Ajah.
Faliat who described her sister as kind, loving and peaceful, said she was sitting behind her sister with five children between ages four and 15 when the ASP opened fire on her at close range without any provocation.
Narrating what happened that day, Faliat said they were already on their way home from church when her sister’s six-year-old daughter told her father, Gbenga Raheem, that he had promised to take them out.
She said the family worshiped at a farther branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) but decided to go to a nearby branch which is their former church that Christmas Sunday since the children complained that going to Surulere was too far.
She said: “Just under the bridge, a policeman said stop and we were on the other side which means we cannot just stop abruptly.
“We needed to clear off the road and to do that, we have to give way to oncoming vehicles. So, another tricycle was coming at the back. While still trying to navigate this process, we heard stop and the next thing was gunshot.
“I thought the man just broke the windscreen on my sister’s side since she was in the front passenger seat and I was right behind her. My four children and her daughter were sitting at the back too.
“So, immediately my sister just said, Gbenga, the bullet of the gun has gone through my body. The bullet has passed through my chest. He has shot me.”
“I came down as soon as I heard those words. I looked at my sister and the policeman. I went straight to him and said you have shot my sister, you will not go.
“He was trying to run into their vehicle to escape with the others. When I told him you have shot my sister, he cocked his gun and wanted to shoot me too but those boys came and held him. He also tried to escape in a Korope but I grabbed him and those boys helped to push him down.”
“My sister was a loving, caring sister. She accommodated people even the people in the estate. She is not the type that always gets angry, even her workers can attest to this.”
The state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the officer that killed Mrs Raheem will not go unpunished.
While condoling with the family, friends and associates of the deceased, the governor expressed “shock and sadness over the mindless shooting of a citizen by a police officer whose primary job function was to protect the same citizen.”
He said: “I am assuring everyone of 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 Bolanle’s untimely death, with a view to ensuring that justice is served.
“I have studied preliminary reports on the matter and have instructed the appropriate government officers to immediately get on it. We must ensure a 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.
“We will ensure that justice is done speedily because justice delayed is justice denied.”
Representatives of the NBA in Lagos met with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ajiwe as well as Commissioner of Police (CP) Lagos State, for effective handling of the case.
Confirming the meetings in a statement yesterday, NBA Lagos Chairman, Ikechukwu Uwanna, said they would ensure justice is neither delayed nor denied.
He said: “The police authorities have confirmed that the police officer who shot and killed our colleague has been arrested and is currently being detained.
“The NBA President, Mr. Y. C. Maikyau SAN, and his exco have also been monitoring the situation to ensure that the matter is given 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…to emphasise our mandate of ensuring that justice is neither delayed nor denied.
“The committee members have also proceeded to visit the family of our slain member as at the time of releasing this statement,” he said.
Others have reacted to the attack.
Comedian Adebowale Adedaya alias Mr Macaroni, said: “This barbarism by the Nigerian Police must come to an end. These murderers must pay for their crimes!!!”
A Twitter user @Eunice’s Daughter said the station’s activities should be investigated and the DPO queried, suspended.
“This is no longer about one rogue officer. The murder of Mrs. Bolanle Raheem is the second in three weeks in that area by a police officer. The DPO has to go and the station’s activities investigated.”
Victor Israel said new recruits should be sent on a compulosry six-month rehabilitation in psychiatric hospitals to ascertain their mental health, emotional balance and anger management.
‘They must not be handed guns when dealing with civil issues. They are police, not hired killers,” he said.
Felix Enimini said: “Nigeria is a jungle, if you survive a day, thank God. Is this how we would keep losing our loved ones under police brutality?
Activist lawyer Inibehe Effiong said: “We were at the station and paid a condolence visit to the family… This is how terrible our country has become. The police that are supposed to protect citizens are killing Nigerians with impunity.”
Human rights lawyer Festus Ogun said: “Lawyer Omobolanle Raheem was fatally shot by men of the Nigerian Police attached to Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah, Lagos. One death, too many. These evil and despicable men in uniform are getting emboldened with their reckless lawlessness. And lawyers are always targeted.”
Journalist Bayo Olupohunda said: “I have been living at Ajah for a while, but I will tell you I dread Ajah Under-bridge. Since Ambode completed the bridge, it has been the den of rogue police officers from Ajiwe Police Station, Area Boys & criminals. You can’t even tell the difference”.
Popular #EndSARS activist, Rinu Oduala posted: “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.”
In a statement, police spokesman Hundeyin said that “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, Hundeyin 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 in front of Ajiwe police station, Ajah.
It was learnt 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.
Videos shared on social media show pedestrians scampering for safety along a busy expressway.
The Nation
