The gruesome murder of Barrister Bolanle Raheem by a trigger-happy ASP in Ajah Lagos on Sunday 25th December, 2022, has recalled for Nigerians across all social and economic levels events that led to the October 202o Endsars protest.
Newsonline reports condemnations have continued to rain heavily on men of the Nigeria Police Force over the ending too short the life of Bolanle Raheem like that of many other Nigerians whose lives were ended by tigger-happy policemen.
Human rights activists, journalists, barristers, and all other Nigerians have recalled with cries that what led to the death of Barrister Bolanle Raheem yesterday (Sunday), under bridge in Ajah, Lagos, was the same police brutality for which many Nigerian youths were killed on October 20, 2020, at Lekki Tollgate.
READ ALSO: Black Christmas: Cries As Trigger-happy Police Kills Barrister, Omobolanle, In Lagos
Though Lagos State Police Command has called for calm reaffirming that the police officer who shot Bolanle has been arrested and added that justice will be served, Nigerians across all works of life have taken to Twitter to vent their anger and frustration with men of the Nigeria Police Force.
Benjamin Hundeyin, Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, in a statement said, “The Lagos State Police Command condoles with the family, friends and colleagues of Barrister Bolanle Raheem.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi, has been in touch with the family and the Nigerian Bar Association since yesterday and has given firm assurances that justice will definitely prevail.
“We are not handling this with levity. The Nigerian Bar Association just concluded a fact-finding visit to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ajah.”
Presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore lamented that the Nigeria Police learned nothing from #Endsars.
A trigger-happy Nigeria Police officer has taken the life of this innocent lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, sad that Nigeria police hasn’t learnt any lessons from the #EndSARS uprising. A system of impunity that is used to snuffing life out Nigerians must be stopped!” Sowore said.
An end to police brutality activist, comedian and comedy skit maker, Debo Adedayo, known as Mr. Macaroni called for an end to what he described as barbarism by men of Nigeria Police against citizens.
“A Nigerian Police Officer from Ajiwe division shot and killed Bolanle Raheem on Xmas day. It is from this same division an Officer killed Gafaru Buraimoh about 2 weeks ago. This barbarism by the Nigerian Police must come to an end. These Murderers must pay for their crimes!!!” Mr. Macaroni tweeted.
A lawyer and human rights activist, Barrister Inibehe Effiong described the killing of his colleague Bolanle as barbaric.
“A lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, is reported to have been shot and murdered at close range on Christmas Day by a rogue policeman attached to Ajiwe Police Division, Ajah. This is barbaric.
“It is a sad commentary that despite EndSARS, Nigerians are still being slaughtered by the police,” Inibehe added.
Journalists have also condemned the killing of Bolanle like all other victims of Police brutality as madness which must stop.
A journalist, Tunde Ososanya, wrote on his handle, “It’s sad that Barrister Bolanle Raheem met her untimely death at the hands of those employed to protect her life while returning from #ChristmasDay2022 worship. This madness must stop! The Nigeria Police Force needs to weed out these trigger-happy officers.”
Another journalist, Bolanle Olukanni, said the sudden death of Raheem Bolanle through the shot of a trigger-happy policeman is trauma to the husband who was driving the late barrister to home on Christmas day after church service when she was shot by the police officer.
“Raheem was my real estate agent. She supported me in my goal and was always cheering me on. She was so hardworking, positive and such a cheerful spirit. She has a husband and child. I can’t even say more. The Nigerian police are killers,” Olukanni said.
