Police Brutality: Civil Societies Ask IGP To Redeploy Osun CP, Olokode

—As Youths Protest Against Extra-Judicial Killings

By Rafiu Agboola, Osogbo

Following unwholesome police brutality in Osun State, a civil Society groups on Extra- judicial yesterday demanded the immediate removal of the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Olawale Olokode

The latest was the gruesome murder of a middle aged man identified as Afolabi Abiola Olamide who was reportedly shot dead by a happy trigger police officer in Osogbo, osun State capital.

The deceased until his unfortunate death was a win seller was allegedly shot in front of his house around 12.30am at the Capital Area, Osogbo on Sunday April 3, 2022.

Sources told New Telegraph that the parents of the deceased based in Northern part of the country while his aunty brought him to Osogbo in search of greener pasture before unfortunate incident.

It was learnt that immediately his death filters into town, a concern groups, organizations mobilized and trooped to the streets to protest the killing and other extra judicial offences perpetrated by officers and men of Osun state police Command.

The protesters block major roads in Osogbo causing traffic jam as many of them were saying they need justice and immediate release of the body of the deceased, Olamide.

The deceased was shot in front of his house around 12.30Am at the Capital Area, Osogbo on Sunday 3rd of April, 2022 by police men attached to Housing Estate police Station Ring road in Osogbo, while he was eating dinner with his friend Matthew (who is currently being detained) alongside with his girlfriend (who was also arrested but later released.

Our correspondent gathered that after several interventions, the police has not been able to give any details as to the reason for shooting late Olamide

The groups comprising Osun police watch, and other Civil Society groups are collaborative platform set up to combat issues of police brutality.

Earlier, while addressing reporters at correspondent chapel in Osogbo the leader of police watch, and other Civil Society groups Mr Oluwaseun Idowu said the rate of killing of innocent citizens of the state by men of Osun state police Command is becoming unbearable and hence demand urgent redeployment of the state police boss.

He explained that the groups was jointly set up by Nigerian Bar Association (Osogbo Branch), National Human Rights Commission (Osun command) and the Osun civil society organizations in the EndSARS movement

He said he received the news
of the alleged shooting of Mr Afolabi Abiola Olamide around 12.30Am in front of his house at the Capital Area, Osogbo on Sunday 3rd of April, 2022.

According to him the victim was said to have been shot in the leg by men of the police force from the Housing Estate police station, ring road Osogbo while he was eating dinner with his friend Matthew (who is currently being detained) alongside with his girlfriend (who was also arrested but later released.

He stated that after several interventions, “we are shocked that the Osun police Command has since not been able to give any details as to the reason for the shooting or the where about of the victim

” We are aware of the underground moves to accuse the victims of armed robbery so as to justify the shooting whereas there are eye witnesses who may disagree with this idea and we await how this will play out in the court of law and public opinion.

” While appreciating the efforts of the Police Complaints Response Unit (PCRU) and Mrs Abiodun Ige (Special Adviser to Osun state Governor on security) that has ensured that calm is maintained in the public space in Osogbo, we however have a few questions for the Osun Police Command:

“What offence did the victims commit that warranted the use of force in their own house as late as 12.30 AM?
.Why have they refused to disclose the whereabouts of mr Abiola to the family and to lawyers since Sunday when the incident happened?

“Is Mr Abiola still alive? If yes, where is he? And if no, where is the body?
May we quickly recall that the Osun State Command of the Nigerian Police Force other than protecting the citizenry has almost become an abbatoir where lives are freely taken without a recourse.

“We recall the extra judicial killing by the police of three young men while been transported to the Ilesa correctional center and till now the case is been swept underground with the police officers involved not been exposed and brought to justice.

” We also recall the extra judicial killing of one Prince Olabomi who was murdered in cold blood at the Oke onitea area of the state capital and despite calls by the people for justice, the case is still not been given the needed attention and closure needed in ensuring that the police officer responsible is brought to book and justice served

“It is important to recall that the nationwide Endsars Protest was birthed in Osun State with the killing of a teenager that was pursued alongside two others along the Ona baba ona by officers of the Joint Task Force in the state.

“While we understand the very sensitive period the State is in given the forthcoming Gubernatorial Election, we wish to state that if the issues surrounding the disappearance of Mr Afolabi Abiola Olamide is not resolved in forty eight hours, we shall mobilize the young population of this state in a mother of all protest not just about him but as it concerns every extra judicial killing that has taken place in the state in the last one year or thereabout that the present commissioner of police has been in charge.

“We are tempted to belief the Commissioner of Police in the state is an accomplice in all the crimes perpetrated by his officers and men given his unpleasant quietness about the killings and the extortions of innocent citizens by members of the police force under his command.

“We condemn in very strong terms the use of excessive force that is now becoming the operational code of the men of Osun command of the Nigeria Police which has resulted in deaths of some citizens of the state. We also condemn the brazen disregard for the rule of law and the provisions of the police act in illegally detaining suspects and denying them their right to a lawyer as constitutionally provided.

“May we put it on record that the rate of crime in the state is fast becoming unbearable and if not abated, we shall be demanding for an unconditional removal of the Commissioner of Police from the state as his actions and inactions encourages crime and perpetrators of same.