How Lagos Lawyer, Bolanle Raheem Became Another Victim Of Police Extra-Judicial Killing On Christmas Day
Omobolanle Raheem was in the car with her husband on their way back from Christmas Day service on Sunday, December 25, 2022, and decided to stop for a box of pizza when their vehicle was flagged by policemen believed to be from Ajiwe station. A few minutes later, Omobolanle was dead from a gunshot wound.
“The officer asked them to park and they needed the vehicle in front to move so they can park well, and immediately the police officer shot at a close range right into her chest”, according to Daniel Yvonne, a lawyer who said he was a colleague of the deceased.
The news of the death of the lawyer has sparked outrage among Nigerians especially as the extrajudicial killing is coming 18 days after policemen from the same police station were accused of killing one Gafaru Buraimoh on December 7, 2022. His death led to a widespread protest on Abraham Adesanya road in Ajah that required police with tear gas to disperse.
According to Yvonne, some policemen came and moved Omobolanle’s body to the mortuary in Yaba, without obtaining any consent from her family members.
The police confirmed the killing of the lawyer whom an eyewitness claimed was pregnant although family members have not confirmed this.
“(An) unfortunate and avoidable incident that was”, Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson of the Lagos state police command, wrote. “The ASP that shot and two others with him have since been taken into custody. They are to be moved to the SCID (State Criminal Investigations Department) for further investigation.”
According to Bolanle Olukanni, TV Host and filmmaker, the deceased who has a young child was her estate agent who was free-spirited and positive.
She wrote: “Bolanle 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.”
Nigeria has had a painful history of police extra-judicial killings, a situation that sparked the October 2020 EndSARS protest. While the immediate cause of the protest was the killing of a young Nigerian in front of Wetland Hotel, Ughelli, Delta State on October 3, 2020, the remote cause was the profiling and extortion of young Nigerians by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad police unit set up to tackle violent crimes.
Ajiwe Police station was set on fire during the EndSARS protest by irate youths due to its notoriety. A resident who lives close to the police station told Neusroom on the condition of anonymity that the police station and its officers operated like a criminal syndicate.
“I jog past the station in the morning and drive past it in the evening and have even had cause to go to the station a number of times and can tell you they are criminals”, He said. “They extort young men and have turned Ajah Under bridge into a spot for making money. The DPO cannot say he is not aware of what his boys are doing.”
