- By Emmanuel Chidi-Maha and Chidera Atuokwu
Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) has called for thorough investigation and prosecution of the murderers of Sheriff Ishola Salami, the youth leader of Ojomu Community, Ajiran land, Lagos.
Salami was matcheted to death by suspected land grabbers who stormed his residence on April 18, leaving his aged mother, widow and three toddlers without their breadwinner.
Lamenting that none of the suspects had been brought to book three months after the murder, CHSR at a briefing held at the International Press Centre, IPC, Ogba, accused the police of unseriousness and lack of convincing interest in investigating the crime.
The group’s President, Alex Omotehinse, said the apparent nonchalance of the police authority appeared deliberate or orchestrated, noting that cries for justice by the deceased’s family and concerned indigenes had not received any attention.
He alleged that petitions had been submitted at the police both at the zonal command headquarters in Onikan and as well the former Inspector General of Police, IGP, Alkali Usman since May but nothing had come.out of them.
“In spite of the quest for justice anchored on the statutory duty of the police, members of the immediate family of the deceased. Sheriff Ishola Salami, are totally broken by the apparent lack of commitment to bringing the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.
“The immediate family of the deceased comprising his critically ill, aged mother; his wife Mrs. Mariam Ishola Salami and three young daughters, Sinata, five years, Ayisha, four years and Arafat, two years are yet to be consoled that justice would be done to the memory of their loved breadwinner.
“The family of the deceased has been left to mourn their beloved son, husband and father without any glimmer of hope of getting justice since the law enforcement agencies; particularly the police charged with the responsibility of protection and conducting criminal investigation have not been forthcoming.
“The concerned indigenes of Ojomu community and the immediate family of the deceased are therefore demanding diligent investigation that would lead to the unraveling of the masterminds and accomplices in the cold-blooded murder of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami.
“The human rights community in Lagos State and by extension Nigeria are demanding that the new leadership of the Police headed by acting Inspector General (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, should order a credible investigation into the crisis in Ojomu community prior to the ugly incident of April 18, 2023, leading to the murder of Mr. Salami.
“The human right community considers it utterly unacceptable that a cruel murder incident on Tuesday 18, April which was duly reported at the Ogombo police station, Lekki, and followed up with a letter from an Attorney to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone II, Onikan, Lagos in which amongst other issues; a demand into the probe of the murder has remained unattended three months after the incident.”
Continuing, the group demanded that the state government should compel the Lagos Police Command to act without further delay in unraveling the perpetrators of the callous murder of Salami..it called on IGP Egbetokun to order a full scale investigation into the remote cause of the youth leader’s murder and those responsible.
“We further demand that the IGP probe the delay in the investigation of the murder three months after the incident.We demand openness and transparency from police authority, particularly Nigeria Police Force, Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone II, Onikan, Lagos in respect of the murder case.
“We demand justice for the deceased, Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami who left behind three daughters and an aged mother. We demand that the culprits in the murder of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami; no matter how highly placed be brought to book in the interest of justice,” the group stated.