The Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday, passed a resolution directing the Attorney General of Lagos State, Supo Sasore, to order a coroner's inquest into the alleged extra judicial killing of Femi Olayiwola by Mohammad Babamala, a Superintendent of Police and Divisional Police Officer of Olosan Police Station in Mushin.
Urgent public importance
The House also asked the Inspector General of Police to ensure the investigation is pursued to a logical conclusion. Irate youth from the neighbourhood staged a protest at the Assembly complex yesterday, alleging cover-up by police authorities in the investigations. The youth, whose arrival coincided with that of the Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, gave the police authorities a one-week ultimatum to bring the culprit to book otherwise police stations in the area will be burnt down. Consequently, Rotimi Olowo, the representative of Somolu II constituency, which includes Onipanu Police Station where the incident occurred, raised the issue as a matter of urgent public importance during plenary session.
Mr. Olowo referred to previous incidents of extra judicial killings within his constituency, none of which has been conclusively investigated by the police and no due compensation paid.
"Policemen are killing us as if on a hunting spree in Somolu and this must not be allowed to continue," he said, opening the floor for other lawmakers to relay their share of "police brutality" within their constituencies.
"A policeman pointed a gun at me over argument on right of way; I wonder the kind of policeman we have in Nigeria," said Mudashiru Obasa (Agege II). Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland II) wanted a speedy and transparent investigation because, according to him, police authority has a way of delaying investigation so everyone will forget about it.
Appeal for calm
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, on Monday, appealed to protesting youth at Shomolu area of the state not to take the laws into their hands. Mr. Akpoyibo said this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the victim. He promised the protesting youth and the family members of the deceased that the police will not cover up the murder.
"I am here personally to condole with you over the unfortunate incident that happened on Sunday," he said. "The Lagos State Police Command is committed to the protection of lives and property and this death is not our way of policing the state. The death of this young Nigerian is a great loss to the state and to the country, but it is irreversible and I assure you that the officer who pulled the trigger is already assisting the command with the investigation. He is in our custody and I promise you that justice will be served."
How it happened
Mr. Olayiwola 31, also known as Femi Best, was allegedly killed at the Onipanu Police Station by Mr. Babamala.
Olawale Olayiwola, the elder brother of the deceased, was in the car when the tragic event took place. "I was with him on Sunday and we were coming from a party," he said. "When we got to Mushin, about 5am, a tinted Camry car was trailing us and Femi said these people can be armed robbers or assassins. He sped off and said he will stop at the Onipanu Police Station to seek refuge. When we got in front of the Onipanu Police Station, he parked; but as he was about to come out of the car, the driver of the tinted Camry car hit him from the rear and the man walked to him and shot him in the head once.
"Three of us were in the vehicle with him, and I saw my brother's blood splash all over the car. We came out and said, ‘we are not armed robbers why are you shooting us?' I held onto the man that shot him. He said he is the DPO of the Olosan Police Station. When the other youth came, we searched his car and we found out that he is actually the DPO of the Olosan Police Station and we got his picture. His name is Muhammad Babamala, a Superintendent of Police. So he is the one who killed my brother. My brother did not provoke him in any way and he killed him for nothing."
The Conoil and AP filling stations located in the area have been cordoned by the police who have been stationed there to keep the peace.
In our report yesterday on the killing of Femi Olayiwola by a police officer at the Onipanu area of Lagos, we erroneously identified Kayode Ojaleponwa as the Divisional Police Officer of Olosan Police station allegedly responsible for the shooting. The Lagos House of Assembly has identified Mohammad Babamala as the suspect in question. The error is regretted.
Source://234next.com
Urgent public importance
The House also asked the Inspector General of Police to ensure the investigation is pursued to a logical conclusion. Irate youth from the neighbourhood staged a protest at the Assembly complex yesterday, alleging cover-up by police authorities in the investigations. The youth, whose arrival coincided with that of the Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, gave the police authorities a one-week ultimatum to bring the culprit to book otherwise police stations in the area will be burnt down. Consequently, Rotimi Olowo, the representative of Somolu II constituency, which includes Onipanu Police Station where the incident occurred, raised the issue as a matter of urgent public importance during plenary session.
Mr. Olowo referred to previous incidents of extra judicial killings within his constituency, none of which has been conclusively investigated by the police and no due compensation paid.
"Policemen are killing us as if on a hunting spree in Somolu and this must not be allowed to continue," he said, opening the floor for other lawmakers to relay their share of "police brutality" within their constituencies.
"A policeman pointed a gun at me over argument on right of way; I wonder the kind of policeman we have in Nigeria," said Mudashiru Obasa (Agege II). Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland II) wanted a speedy and transparent investigation because, according to him, police authority has a way of delaying investigation so everyone will forget about it.
Appeal for calm
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, on Monday, appealed to protesting youth at Shomolu area of the state not to take the laws into their hands. Mr. Akpoyibo said this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the victim. He promised the protesting youth and the family members of the deceased that the police will not cover up the murder.
"I am here personally to condole with you over the unfortunate incident that happened on Sunday," he said. "The Lagos State Police Command is committed to the protection of lives and property and this death is not our way of policing the state. The death of this young Nigerian is a great loss to the state and to the country, but it is irreversible and I assure you that the officer who pulled the trigger is already assisting the command with the investigation. He is in our custody and I promise you that justice will be served."
How it happened
Mr. Olayiwola 31, also known as Femi Best, was allegedly killed at the Onipanu Police Station by Mr. Babamala.
Olawale Olayiwola, the elder brother of the deceased, was in the car when the tragic event took place. "I was with him on Sunday and we were coming from a party," he said. "When we got to Mushin, about 5am, a tinted Camry car was trailing us and Femi said these people can be armed robbers or assassins. He sped off and said he will stop at the Onipanu Police Station to seek refuge. When we got in front of the Onipanu Police Station, he parked; but as he was about to come out of the car, the driver of the tinted Camry car hit him from the rear and the man walked to him and shot him in the head once.
"Three of us were in the vehicle with him, and I saw my brother's blood splash all over the car. We came out and said, ‘we are not armed robbers why are you shooting us?' I held onto the man that shot him. He said he is the DPO of the Olosan Police Station. When the other youth came, we searched his car and we found out that he is actually the DPO of the Olosan Police Station and we got his picture. His name is Muhammad Babamala, a Superintendent of Police. So he is the one who killed my brother. My brother did not provoke him in any way and he killed him for nothing."
The Conoil and AP filling stations located in the area have been cordoned by the police who have been stationed there to keep the peace.
In our report yesterday on the killing of Femi Olayiwola by a police officer at the Onipanu area of Lagos, we erroneously identified Kayode Ojaleponwa as the Divisional Police Officer of Olosan Police station allegedly responsible for the shooting. The Lagos House of Assembly has identified Mohammad Babamala as the suspect in question. The error is regretted.
Source://234next.com
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