I hawked oranges for my daughter to study law, Mother breaks silence over murder of pregnant Lagos lawyer, Bolanle Raheem
By Sodiq Adelakun
The mother of slain Lagos lawyer, Mrs. Ishola has broken her silence over the gruesome killing of her daughter, Omobolanle Raheem by the Nigerian police force.
Bolanle Raheem, nee Ishola was killed by ASP Drambi Vandi, an officer attached to Ajiwe Police Station in the Ajah area of Lagos State on Sunday in the presence of her husband, and other family members while on their way to buy pizza.
The police had flagged down the car and shot her in the chest before her husband, who was driving at the time could find a place to park.
Mrs. Ishola, speaking in Yorùbá language with the Commissioner of Police, CP Olusegun Hakeem Dosumu at the deceased family House, Lekki Gardens, on Tuesday evening lamented how she suffered to train her child until she became a lawyer and successful in life.
She said:” I suffered in lack and went hawking for my daughter, [slain lawyer] to become a graduate of law.
“I hawked oranges to ensure she had a good education and today, I can’t find her again”
“She was not sick, she had no pain, she just disappeared like that. On a Christmas day when everybody was happy, my daughter just disappeared without suffering any sickness. Oh, Commissioner (referring to the police commissioner) it is not easy. “
Earlier in the day, it was observed that Omobolanle’s mum was still in shock as she kept insisting that her daughter was still in the house.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Abiodun Alabi, was on the condolence visit in the company of the Public Relations Officer of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-iwoye, Barrister Bello Kazeem, Barrister Eniola Onaolapo, and Barrister Ajibola Ajiboye.
However, President Buhari has condemned the “heinous and senseless” killing of Omobolanle Raheem, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) shot by on-duty policemen on Christmas Day. In a statement released by his media aide, Garba Shehu, the President said he was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the brutal killing and directed the police authorities to take “the strongest possible action” against the culprits already held in detention.
Many Nigerians have taken to social media to express outrage over the killing and call for justice for the deceased.
Prominent Nigerians who have sent their condolences to the bereaved family include Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba; and a former vice president Atiku Abubakar.
Meanwhile In a statement signed by the police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, on Monday, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Baba, condoled the family of the deceased.
He said the action of the police officer does not represent the core values of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the statement, Mr Baba has ordered a “speedy investigation and prosecution of the officers responsible for the ugly and unprofessional act, which doesn’t portray the Nigeria Police Standard Operating Procedure and core values.”
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), condemned the shooting, describing it as “heartbreaking.” The former vice president called for the reformation of the policing system.
“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,” he tweeted.
“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.”
Mr Sanwo-Olu, the state governor, described the news of the incident as shocking and sad.
“My condolences to her family, friends and associates,” he tweeted. “I can assure you that justice will be served.”
Also, a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, via his Twitter handle, said he and some other people have paid a condolence visit to the Lagos lawyer’s family.
In one of the pictures that accompanied his tweets, the lawyer identified a man whose hands were on his head as the husband of the deceased.
“He could barely utter a word while we were in his house,” Mr Effiong said of the grieving husband.
He urged the police to publicly identify the killer cop.
He also said he found out that the killer cop who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) will be retiring soon.
“He must not be shielded,” he added.
Following the incident, the Endsars hashtag, a movement to end police brutality and extrajudicial killings, once again trended.
An international human rights organisation, Amnesty International, in a post on Twitter “strongly condemned” the killing of Mrs Raheem by the police officer.
“It is horrifying that police officers who are meant to protect lives take it with impunity,” the post reads.
“The Nigeria Police Force’s announcement of an investigation into this tragic incident must lead to justice, and the erring police officers must face prosecution in independent, impartial, public trials.
“Reckless resort of the police to deadly force is a human rights violation. Police brutality must end.”
Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, said the police did not take any lesson away from the #Endsars protests.
“A system of impunity that is used to snuff out Nigerians must be stopped! #WeCantContinueLikeThis,” hetweeted.
Using the hashtag, ‘Oyibo of Abuja’, he said the “mindless” killing of the lawyer was “unacceptable.”
Sir Kess, a BBN reality star, called for justice for the deceased.
“How long will these senseless, unwarranted, unprovoked killings continue? This is so sad!
“Justice for Bolanle Raheem.”
A colleague of the deceased, @OrayeEsq, in his tweets, said the death of Mrs Raheem “means that the Nigerian government learnt nothing and changed nothing after the #EndSARS campaign.*
He urged Nigerians to come out enmasses and end bad governance in the 2023 presidential election.
Kemi Olunloyo, a blogger, called for a transparent investigation into the death of the lawyer.
