The inspector general of police, Mr. Usman Baba, has ordered a speedy investigation and prosecution of the officer involved in the killing of a 41-year-old pregnant lawyer, Mrs. Bolanle Raheem.
The incident occurred in the Ajah area of Lagos when the deceased and her family were returning from Christmas service on Sunday, December 25.
The killer police officer, identified as Drambi Vandi, was attached to the Ajiwe police station, Ajah.
Husband of the deceased, Mr. Gbenga Raheem who narrated how his wife was shot and killed said: “On December 25, my wife, nieces, nephews, and cousins, who had come for the holiday, all went to church.
“On our way back, my wife said since it was Christmas Day, we should take everyone out, so, we went to a supermarket at Abraham Adesanya, then to Domino’s Pizza.
“After that, we headed towards Ajah to do a U-turn to come back to Abraham Adesanya. When we took the U-turn, we saw policemen stopping some vehicles. As we approached them, they said we should stop, and in the process, we heard a loud sound on my wife’s side window. All of a sudden, I saw blood gushing out of her chest.
“I immediately ran out; my sister-in-law, who was also with us, ran out and held the policeman; he cocked his gun at her too. Talking to him was pointless, so I went to see if anything could be done; I saw my wife gasping for breath, and by that time, my sister-in-law had brought the policeman into the car and pushed him into the front seat.
“We drove to a hospital but they said they couldn’t handle it; we eventually took her to Grandville Hospital, where she was confirmed dead. The policemen took her body and put it in the truck; they wanted me to follow them but I said I needed to go and settle my children.”
Reacting to the killing, spokesman for the Nigeria Police, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement that the inspector general of police commiserated with the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased.
“The IGP, who described the incident as unfortunate and sad, has ordered speedy investigation and prosecution of the officers responsible for the ugly and unprofessional act, which doesn’t portray the Nigeria police standard operating procedure and core values.
“In the same vein, the IGP commiserates with the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased as he prays for the repose of her soul.
“He further assures the general public of justice in the case while he warns officers and men of the force to be professional and people-oriented in the discharge of their duties and operate within the ambit of the law, as the force’s leadership will not condone any inappropriate or unprofessional acts,” Adejobi stated.
Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin, said three officers were arrested and taken into custody over the incident.
He also said the case had been transferred to the criminal investigation department of the Lagos police command for “in-depth investigation”.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi, fdc has expressed heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Barrister Bolanle Raheem who was shot dead by a police officer in Ajah on Sunday, December 25, 2022.
“On the instruction of the Commissioner of Police, the errant officer has since been taken into custody alongside his team members.
“The CP has equally directed that the case be transferred to the Lagos State Police Command State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba for in-depth investigation.
“This has become one too many, especially bearing in mind that a similar incident occurred at the same location less than three weeks ago. The condemnable incident is against the standard operating procedures (SOP) and rules of engagement of the Force, and to say the least, is embarrassing.
“Beyond this incident, the Nigeria Police Force will carry out a reappraisal of its rules of engagement in a bid to put an end to such avoidable ugly incidents.
“The Lagos State Police Command hereby appeals to the good people and residents of Lagos State to remain calm as the Command is already in constant touch with the Nigerian Bar Association and other relevant stakeholders towards ensuring that justice totally prevails,” Hundeyin wrote.
Also reacting to the killing, the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the state government would give full support and cooperate with the police authorities to ensure speedy justice in the matter.
“I have studied preliminary reports on the matter and have instructed the appropriate government officers to immediately get on it.
“We must ensure 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.
“Nothing will be spared under the Laws of Lagos State until justice is served adequately. We will ensure that it is done speedily because justice delayed is justice denied,” he added.
For its part, the Police Service Commission has condemned the homicide and called on the Nigeria Police Force to further train its officers in weapon handling and put an end to worrisome and unprovoked shootings and killings of innocent Nigerians.
“The PSC has received with shock the news of unprovoked killing of a harmless Nigerian, a lawyer, Mrs. Bolanle Raheem, who was alleged to have been shot and killed by a policeman attached to Ajiwe Police Station Ajah, in Lagos State, on Sunday, December 25, 2022.
“The commission condemns this irresponsible and savage act. It directs the police leadership to hasten investigation into the matter and forward its report to the PSC for consideration and further disciplinary action.
“The commission also calls on the police to put in place a formidable programme for further training of its men in weapon handling as the case of unprovoked shooting and killing of innocent Nigerians has become worrisome.
“The commission notes that the police by its creation and constitutional mandate are expected to protect and save lives and not the other way round.
“The acting chairperson of the commission, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, on behalf of the management and staff, commiserate with the family of the deceased, especially her husband who was driving her home when they were accosted by the trigger-happy policeman,” spokesman for the commission, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, said in a statement on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Atiku Abubakar and his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Mr. Bola Tinubu, have called for the reform of the Nigeria Police.
Atiku said the shooting called to attention the urgent need for police reforms that would sanitise the Force and bring it in line with best policing practices.
“The shooting of Bolanle Raheem by a police officer is heartbreaking and stands condemned. This latest shooting calls to attention the urgent need for police reforms that will sanitise the Force and bring it in line with best policing practices.
“I call on the police authorities and the justice system to expedite action on the matter, as justice delayed is justice denied. This will serve as a deterrent to the incidents of irresponsible shooting of innocent citizens by law enforcement agents.
“I express my deepest condolences to the family, friends and the Nigeria Bar Association, in particular its Lagos chapter. May her soul rest in peace,” Atiku said in his tweet.
Similarly, Tinubu said there was an urgent need to reform the Nigeria Police.
“The avoidable tragedy, which cost a family a beloved member and our country a diligent legal professional, underscores, yet again, the crucial importance and urgency of reforming the Nigeria Police Force,” he tweeted.
For his part, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) condemned the killing and insisted that the police must make public the name and photograph of the accused.
“It is very unfortunate that trigger-happy policemen continue to send young innocent Nigerians to early graves and the authorities continue to look the other way.
“The killing of Raheem is particularly painful because officers from the same Ajiwe police station in Ajah on December 6, 2022 also shot dead Gafaru Buraimoh, a resident of Happy Land Estate in Ajah.
“HURIWA condemns these heinous assassinations and demand the immediate prosecution of the murderers involved. It is still unthinkable how that a family was served the killing of their daughter as a Christmas Day and Boxing Day gift. This is the height of callousness and inhumanity of police officers despite the October 2020 nationwide protests against police brutality and extrajudicial killings,” HURIWA’s national coordinator, Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko, said in a statement.
He charged the police not to cover up the identity of the culprit.
