Mandy Park
The Centre for Human and Social-Economic Rights (CHSR), Campaign Against Impunity, and other right groups have appealed to the Lagos State Police Command and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Sheriff Ishola Salami by unknown killers and bring the culprits to justice.
The appeal was made on Thursday during a strong protest at the offices of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the NHRC, and the governor’s office, where petitions were submitted demanding an urgent police investigation into the matter.
Wife of the deceased, Mrs Mariam Ishola Salami, also joined the protest, weeping profusely at some point.
Recall that Ishola Salami, a youth leader in Ajiranland, was murdered in cold blood on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at MOBA town, adjacent to Ajiran in Eti-Osa Local Council, Lagos State, allegedly by land grabbers who pose serious threat in the area.
The President of the CHSR, Alex Omotehinse, who led the protest said since the death of Salami, the police in Ogombo, Eti-Osa, Lekki, and Area J Police Command have failed to investigate the gruesome murder, despite their advocacy engagements and the submission of petitions to draw the attention of Nigerians and the police.
“The deceased was a leader of the youth in Ojomu Community, Ajiranland. Following the murder, we have made representations to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone II, Onikan, Lagos, via a petition to draw attention to the indifference of the police and their apparent lack of commitment to investigate the incident, which was duly reported at Ogombo Police Station.
“We, through this advocacy, joined the widow of the deceased, Mrs. Mariam Salami, in submitting desperate petitions to the Governor of Lagos State, the Commissioner of Police, and the NHRC through the Lagos office of the agency’ he said.
Omotehinse noted further that as civil society groups, they are deeply touched by the pains of the immediate family of the deceased, noting that the police authority in Lekki axis appears uninterested in investigating the murder, which was perpetrated in broad daylight.
“The immediate family members of the deceased are worried and frustrated by the delay that is increasingly assuming a deliberate ploy to shield perpetrators of the heinous crime from facing justice.
“The deceased, who is the breadwinner of the family, left behind his critically ill mother, who unfortunately died in her frustration state some few days ago, his wife, and three young daughters: Sinata (5 years); Ayisha (5 years); and Arafat (2 years).
“We are convinced that eight months after the cold-blooded murder, the police authority in Lagos has failed in its statutory duty of investigation even though the incident was duly reported at the Ogombo Police Station, Lekki,” Omotehinse said.
The widow, Mariam, while talking to the press at the protest ground which kicked off from Ikeja High Court gate, lamented that since April, nothing has been done about the murder of her husband.
While demanding justice to prevail, she noted that even though the Oba of Eko and the traditional ruler of Ajiranland petitioned the police on the matter, nothing has been done, adding that residents of the area are currently living in panic.
At the office of the Police Commissioner, the Acting Commissioner, DCP Waheed Ayilara, assured that the command would objectively look into the matter and ensure offenders are brought to book
“Investigation is done with empirical evidence, not hearsay. Those that have facts should make themselves available when it’s time for investigation.”
At the office of the NHRC, Alausa, the Lagos State Coordinator, Dr Lucas Koyejo, who commended the CSHR effort, said everybody has the right to life and that’s where the Human Rights Commission comes in.
“It is the duty of the police to investigate; we are receiving this petition for the first time, and we’ll ensure that justice is done.
We’ll look at the case; we’ll go to the Commissioner of Police and know what they have done. I can assure you that your representatives will be getting feedback,” he said.
He promised that their organisation will follow up the Salami case, to ensure he gets justice.
