The Lagos State chapter of The Committee for The Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), has called for the arrest and prosecution of the Police Officer who allegedly killed a tricycle rider in Lagos recently.
Pandemonium enveloped Lagos on fateful day when a yet-to-be-identified Police officer allegedly stabbed a tricycle operator, identified only as Eleyele, to death for refusing to part with N100 as the officer demanded.
Angered by the incident, the victim’s colleagues ran after the policeman, who fled the scene. Consequently, the colleagues carried the victim’s remains to the front of the Meiran Police Division, where it was deposited.
An eye witness resident in the area, who gave his name only as Yusuf, said the traffic policeman stabbed the victim in the chest, adding that the attack was unprovoked.
“The incident happened around 9am. The cyclist was going to a destination when the traffic policeman stopped him and demanded N100. He told the policeman that he just started work and did not have the money. We don’t know if they had an argument, but the policeman suddenly brought out a knife and stabbed the operator in the chest. The man died on the spot,”yusuf stated.
Reacting to the incident, CDHR said there was no justification for killing the tricycle rider who was on a legitimate business to feed his family.
In a statement made available to the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, and jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the chapter, Kehinde Adeoye and Bello Mufutau, respectively, the civil society group frowned at the carelessness with which security agents, especially the Police needlessly kill unsuspecting and innocent citizens.
The statement titled ‘Extra Judicial Killing: A Case of a Young Tricycle Rider Stabbed to Death by a Nigerian Police Officer’ reads in full:
“CDHR condemns the gruesome killing of a young Nigerian who was looking for his daily bread and how to make his life better but was killed by a rogue, scalawag and inhumane Nigerian police officer.This unfortunate incident took place today, Thursday, 4th of November, 2021, along Command, Meiran, Lagos State.
The manner in which the poor youngster was unjustly killed is very gruesome and with impunity. There cannot be a justification for this gruesome extra judicial murder, we ask, which law provides death penalty for a traffic offence? It is very clear that the unworthy Nigerian police officer feels that he is above the law.
This feeling of impunity by the supposed law officers should be put on check and immediately. We despise and condemn wholeheartedly this unjustifiable extra judicial killing by the Nigerian police officer of a hardworking and law abiding youth.
The #EndSARS revolt of 2020 is still fresh in our memories, it was police brutality, injustice and extra judicial killings that fueled it. It seems that nothing was learnt from the protest.
We hereby demand a thorough private investigation, immediate arrest of the rogue policeman and his prosecution.
While adequate compensation should be paid to the victim, we join the clarion call for a total overhaul of the Nigerian police.”
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