By Olusegun Olanrewaju
Emotion snowballed into rage nationwide yesterday as a trigger-happy police officer cold-bloodedly gunned down a pregnant lawyer-cum-property realtor in Lagos.
Omobolanle Raheem, a Lagos lawyer, and mother-of-three was shot dead by an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) on Christmas Day in the Ajah area of Lagos, on her way from Christmas Day church service.
At the time of the brutal murder that has triggered widespread outrage on social media and all over the country, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) member was in the company of her family in the vehicle.
At the reported time of the incident, Bolanle was sitting in the car, with her husband just beside her.
Described as an award-winning realtor, real estate consultant, business coach, and developer, the brutal death of the deceased has, once again, opened up the underbelly of such cruel happenings on the nation’s murderous highways when the sense of reason takes the leave of the men in black.
Before she was untimely gunned out of existence, Bolanle was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a private concern, Croston Homes. She also piloted, as co-founder, City Building, a real estate and property development company in Lagos.
Social media is awash with derogatory posting and tweeting dusting the image of the law enforcers in the trash can.
*Bloody day
According to her Instagram page, Instagram @bolanleraheem, Raheem met her unfortunate death on Christmas Day after a yet-to-be-identified policeman shot at her car in the Ajah area of Lagos State.
According to reports, those in the car with the late Mrs. Raheem include her sister and four children.
They were said to be coming from an eatery in their car around 11 am when the senior policeman allegedly tried to stop them.
It was gathered that she was trying to make a U-turn under the Ajah Bridge when the police officer shot at her vehicle. The bullet reportedly hit the victim and she was immediately rushed to a hospital, where she was confirmed dead.
Immediately after the gunshot and outcome, the police officer was reported to have taken off from the scene. But the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, says the suspect is currently in custody.
*Replica
Sometime, and earlier this month, another trigger-happy policeman serving with the Ajah Divisional Police Station, opened fire and killed Gafaru Buraimoh during a raid of suspected black market fuel sellers.
Both killer policemen, it is believed, are attached to the Ajiwe police station, a police post which, reports say is embroiled in several cases of rights abuses by ‘overzealous personnel’.
*Flurry of reactions
Reacting to the incident yesterday, force spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, described the officer’s action as “unfortunate and avoidable”.
He said, “The ASP that shot, and (the) two others with him, have since been taken into custody. They are to be moved to the SCID (State Criminal Investigation Department) for further investigation,” Hundeyin tweeted.
*Tinubu condemns killing
Reacting to the incident, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, released a statement via his Twitter handle, where he condemned the murder of the Ombolanle Raheem.
He said, “I share the grief and frustration of Nigerians over the senseless killing of Mrs. Ombolanle Raheem by a police officer on Christmas Day in Lagos. The avoidable tragedy, which costs a family a beloved member, and our country a diligent legal professional, underscores, yet again the crucial importance and urgency of reforming the Nigerian police.”
*Atiku reacts
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the shooting and killing of a female lawyer in Lagos, Bolanle Raheem by a police officer in the state.
According to him, the latest shooting calls to attention the urgent need for Police reforms that will sanitise the Force and bring it in line with best policing practices.
The former vice president called on the police authorities and the Justice system to expedite action on the matter, as justice delayed is justice denied.
He noted that doing so, it will serve as a deterrent to the incidents of the irresponsible shooting of innocent citizens by law enforcement agents.
He expressed condolences to the deceased family, friends, and the Lagos chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA).
Atiku wrote, “The shooting of Bolanle Raheem by a police officer is heartbreaking and stands condemned. This latest shooting calls to attention the urgent need for Police reforms that will sanitise the Force and bring it in line with best policing practices.
“I call on the police authorities and the Justice system to expedite action on the matter, as justice delayed is justice denied. This will serve as a deterrent to the incidents of the irresponsible shooting of innocent citizens by law enforcement agents.
“I express my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and the Nigeria Bar Association, in particular its Lagos chapter. May her soul rest in peace.”
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*Sanwo-Olu condemns cold-blooded killing, commiserates with family
Faced with a barrage, Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday took time off his busy schedule for a time to condemn, in the strongest terms, Mrs. Raheem’s killing while on an outdoor Christmas Day celebration with her family.
Expressing shock and sadness over the incident, the governor, who was still celebrating the commissioning of the transport-easing ‘Lagos Blue Rail’ berated what he called the “mindless shooting of a harmless citizen by a police officer whose primary job function was to protect the same citizen”.
Sympathising with the family, friends, and associates of the late Mrs. Raheem pledged the state government’s full support and cooperation with the police in their investigation.
He also vowed to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the shooting, that led to the untimely death of an innocent citizen, to ensure justice.
The Lagos State helmsman said, “I have studied preliminary reports on the matter, and have instructed the appropriate government officers to immediately get on it. We must ensure speedy justice for the late Bolanle. Our government cannot sit back and watch our citizens killed by the same law enforcers that should ordinarily protect them.”
He added, “I’m aware that the Lagos State Police Command has arrested, disarmed, and detained the police officers involved in the shooting incident. I can assure you that the accused persons will have their day in court, and nothing will be spared under the laws of Lagos State until justice is served adequately. We will ensure that it is done speedily because justice delayed is justice denied.”
The governor has, however, appealed to residents to remain calm and not take the law into their hands on the matter.
He assured the citizens of the state that the government will live up to its responsibilities and get justice for the deceased.
Sanwo-Olu prayed for the repose of the late Bolanle Raheem’s soul, asking God to grant her immediate family and friends the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
*Police response
The police expressed profound regret over the incident. Their boss, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered a probe into the killing.
He also promised that the police command in Lagos is going to review its rules of engagement to avert a future recurrence.
Earlier in its immediate response, the Lagos State Police Command had confirmed the arrest and detention of its officer who killed the female lawyer.
Reacting on his Twitter handle, the spokesman of Lagos State Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, a superintendent, said the officer responsible for the killing and others had been taken into custody.
He added, on a note of sadness, “Unfortunate and avoidable incident that was. The ASP that shot and two others with him have since been taken into custody. They are to be moved to the SCID for further investigation.
“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 prevail.
In its expected response, the lawyers’ umbrella body, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemned the killing of Mrs. Raheem.
Demanding justice, the National Publicity Secretary of NBA, Akorede Lawal, described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the president of the association, Yakubu Maikyau, was monitoring the situation.
Lawal, on his Twitter handle, said, “We are aware of this unfortunate incident. This is yet another crime against a lawyer. Regrettably, our member is gone. The NBA President @YCMaikyauSAN is right on this, and we shall ensure that justice is duly served.”
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Usman Alkali Baba, has condemned the ‘high scale’ killing.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, a chief superintendent, said in a statement in Abuja yesterday that the incident was unfortunate and sad.
According to him, the police authorities have ordered a speedy investigation and prosecution of the officers responsible for the ‘ugly and unprofessional act’.
Oiujobi said the act did not elevate the Nigeria Police Standard Operating Procedure and core values.
Baba commiserated with the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased and prayed for the repose of her soul.
He pledged to ensure that justice prevailed in the case. The IGp warned officers and men of the force to be professional and people-oriented in the discharge of their duties.
Baba urged police officers to always operate within the ambit of the law, adding that the Force leadership would not condone any inappropriate or unprofessional acts.
Responding to a tweet by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who described the incident as unfortunate and avoidable, Macaroni told the police superintendent that “If it was a civilian that the police accused of a crime, even before proven guilty, you will give us their names, even snap pictures or make videos after beating them up. Keep protecting yours.
*The deceased: History
The late Mrs Raheem was a Christian, born on May 29 (Nigeria’s Democracy Day), and was married with children
She had her secondary school education at the Holy Child College, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
She also attended Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye in Ogun State, and studied at the Nigerian Law School in Enugu State.
Before her death, the late Raheem was a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos chapter.
