CSOs demand justice for slain Lagos community indigenes
By Sherifdeen Amusa A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has urged the Lagos State Commissioner of Police(CP), Moshood Jimoh, to intensify investigations into the killings of a youth leader,
By Sherifdeen Amusa
A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has urged the Lagos State Commissioner of Police(CP), Moshood Jimoh, to intensify investigations into the killings of a youth leader, Sheriff Salami, and Prince Kazeem Akinloye, son of the Oba of Ajiran community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Salami, an aluminium fabricator and youth leader, was killed on April 18, 2023, at Moba town, adjacent Ajiran, while Prince Akinloye was assassinated on August 26, 2024, along Chevron Drive, Lekki.
The call was made at a joint press conference in Ogba, Lagos, by the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), Centre for Economic and Human Rights Advancement (CEHRA) and Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA).
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President, Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), Comrade Alex Omotehinse, lauded the CP and state Police Command for efforts made in handling the murder cases.
“We are indeed pleased by the commitment of the men of the Lagos State Police Command under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, to resolving the murders of the two sons of the Ajiran community. It would be cheering if these incidents do not end up as part of the many unsolved murder cases in Nigeria. Our expectation is that justice will be done,” he said.
Omotehinse urged the police to ensure diligent, thorough and conclusive investigations, as well as the prosecution of all those found culpable, to address what they described as deep-seated public concerns and anxieties generated by the killings.
According to him, renewed investigations by the state Police Command have led to the arrest of some suspects whose confessional statements, the police said, resulted in the declaration of other prime suspects wanted in connection with the murders.
National Coordinator, CEHRA, Comrade Deji Adebowale, appealed to the police to remain unrelenting in ensuring that the cases are resolved and the perpetrators brought to book, noting that this would further strengthen public confidence in the police as Nigeria’s foremost law enforcement institution.
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Widow of Prince Akinloye, Mrs. Aramide Akinloye, while commending the efforts of the government, police, civil society organisations and family members, called for justice and transparency in the investigation into her husband’s death.
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She stressed that justice must not be delayed or compromised, adding that accountability was crucial not only for her peace of mind but also for the future of her young children, who would one day seek answers about their father’s death.
An elder sister of the late Sheriff Salami, Sanni Aisha, said the loss of her brother continues to weigh heavily on the family nearly three years after the incident, disclosing that their mother died seven months after learning of his death.
She described Salami as a generous man devoted to the welfare of his family, lamenting that neither family members nor his wife were allowed to see his body before burial.
According to her, the deceased was the family’s breadwinner, sponsoring medical care for their late mother and supporting relatives financially. She added that his children, aged between seven and nine, have been left without their father’s care and support.
Aisha further alleged that Salami’s widow has faced intimidation within the community, claiming that some individuals warned residents not to associate with her and her children.
