Bolanle Raheem’s Murder: Horrendous Killings Are Common Phenomenon Under Buhari Government, Says Falana

A human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has noted that horrendous killings are a common phenomenon under President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Falana said this while reacting to the general condemnation of the killing of a female lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem on Christmas Day by a trigger-happy policeman.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria while making suggestions as to how lawyers could mobilise Nigerians to end police brutality, alleged that because of the huge amount of money extorted by police and military personnel from motorists at checkpoints which are shared by police and military officers, the banning of checkpoints by successive Inspectors-General of Police has been unenforceable.

He lamented that hundreds of Nigerians have been killed by police and soldiers at checkpoints, regrettably, despite the demand of the human rights community for fundamental reform of the curriculum of the police academy.

He added that the training of police cadets has remained as brutish as it was under the British colonial regime.

Falana said, “The Nigerian Bar Association has condemned the brutal killing of one of its members, Mrs Bolanle Raheem, in Lagos on December 24, 2022, by a trigger-happy policeman. The suspect has been arrested and detained pending his arraignment for murder in the Lagos State High Court.

“The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba and Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have decried the killing and assured the Nigerian people that justice would be served speedily. To demonstrate the abhorrence of the Government, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN will lead the prosecution team.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and complete disapproval of the horrendous killing, even though it is a common phenomenon under his administration. In the same vein, the presidential candidates of the leading political parties have berated the Nigeria Police Force over the killing.

“It is however curious to note that these political leaders have not informed Nigerian voters how they intend to end the extrajudicial killing of unarmed citizens by the police and other security agencies in the county if they win the 2023 presidential election.

“The cruel killing of Mrs Bolanle Raheem provides an opportunity for the Nigerian people led by lawyers to address the root cause of the extrajudicial killing of unarmed citizens by law enforcement officers.”

The human rights lawyer recalled that on July 15, 1981, Dele Udo, a United States-based athlete and a potential world beater in the 400 metres was shot dead by a “trigger-happy policeman at Ojuelegba in Lagos State”. “That was the beginning of the reckless shooting of unarmed citizens by armed policemen and armed soldiers on the roads,” he added.

“Since then, hundreds of young people and other citizens have been killed in illegal checkpoints manned by drunk police and military personnel. The huge amount of money extorted from motorists via the checkpoints is allegedly shared by police and military officers. Hence, the cancellation of checkpoints by successive Inspectors- General of Police has never been faithfully enforced,” he said.

“Having been brutalised themselves, they derive pleasure in subjecting suspects to physical, mental and psychological torture. During the interrogation of a suspect, it is not uncommon for a policeman to threaten that “I will kill you and nothing will happen,” he added.

Source:- Sahara Reporters