Murder of Lagos youth leader: Group calls for probe one year after

One year after the gruesome murder of a youth leader, Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami in Ojomu community, Ajiran area of Lagos State, the Centre for Human and Social-Economic Rights (CHSR) has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to order credible investigation into the matter.

President of the body, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, who made the call yesterday, during a press conference, regretted that exactly one year, Nigerians are appalled that the police are yet to conduct investigation into the callous incident.

On Tuesday, April 18, 2023, Salami was murdered by unknown assailants at Mobu town, adjacent Ajiran.

Concerned indigenes of the Ajiran community and the traditional leadership made representations to the police to unravel the mystery behind the murder, but no meaningful step was taken to investigate the case.

Omotehinse said the police’s apparent nonchalance was deliberately orchestrated to frustrate investigation and deny justice to the immediate family of the deceased.

He said: “You would recall that in the last one year, we had cause to call out the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Egbetokun, with appeal to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the need to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime and bring them to book in accordance with the dictates of the law and in the interest of justice.

“In the last one year, the deceased’s mother, who was terminally ill at the time of the unfortunate incident, passed on in trauma, while his wife, Mrs. Mariam Ishola Salami and three young daughters, Zinat, Asisat and Arafat are yet to be reassured that justice would be done to the memory of their loved one.

The President said 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 protecting and conducting criminal investigation, have not been forthcoming.

“For the avoidance of doubts, the murder incident was duly reported at the Ogombo police station, Lekki, followed up with a notification to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Police Force, Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone II, Onikan.

“You would recall that in November 2023, we embarked on advocacy to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, National Human Rights Commission (Lagos State Office) and the office of the Governor of Lagos State,” he said.

Also, the wife of the deceased, Mariam, who expressed disappointment with the turn of events, said: “I have been expecting justice in the last one year. He was murdered in broad daylight, despite all pleas to government and law enforcement agencies, all fell on deaf ears.

“I am appealing to Governor Sanwo-Olu to wade into this matter. The police knew what happened but kept quiet. Those who know what really transpired are afraid to come out to talk; I am doing this because I am his wife.”