Ogun family seeks justice over alleged police killing of ‘breadwinner’

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The family of a man, Owolabi Oniyiku, allegedly shot dead by policemen attached to a border patrol team in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State has appealed to the state government and police authorities to investigate the incident and ensure justice.

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The family also called for the dismissal of the officers allegedly involved in the killing, accusing them of harassment and extortion along the road.

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A relative of the deceased, Kolade Oniyiku, appealed in an interview with PUNCH Metro on Saturday while narrating the circumstances surrounding the death of the victim.

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According to him, the deceased had returned home to celebrate the Oro festival and was expected to travel back on Wednesday when he encountered the policemen at Akinde Junction.

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He said the policemen had seized some motorcycles, thereby causing apprehension for other motorcyclists who feared their motorcycles may also be seized.

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He noted that the deceased approached them and asked if he could pass through before an argument allegedly ensued between him and one of the officers before the policeman opened fire.

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“He went there to ask if they could pass through the other side of their shed. The police officer began arguing with him, saying, ‘Don’t pass here, don’t pass here.’

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“As he started turning around, the officer just opened fire on him; he didn’t even move further. He didn’t fight with them; he didn’t do anything,” Kolade alleged.

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He expressed disappointment that no police officer had visited the family or formally contacted them to express concerns following the incident.

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“They never showed up at our place, and even when we spoke with some of them, they never contacted us,” he said.

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Kolade said the deceased’s remains were eventually deposited at a mortuary, adding that the family followed the body there.

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He explained that the deceased was the main breadwinner of the family and had been responsible for the welfare of his mother and younger siblings.

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“What his death did to us right now is very heavy. It devastated the family because he was the one taking care of his mother. He was the one sending money to all his younger siblings. He was the one taking care of the family. It hurt the family deeply; all of us are in tears,” he said.

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Kolade clarified that contrary to reports that the deceased’s wife had recently given birth, it was his younger brother’s wife who had welcomed a baby.

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He appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force to intervene in the matter and ensure that the death did not go without accountability.

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“Please, they should intervene now, because with what happened, those police officers ought to be dismissed, all of them,” he said.

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He also called for an end to what he described as frequent roadblocks and alleged extortion by security personnel along the road.

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“Regarding those roadblocks they set up on that road, we don’t want them. The government should save us from them because they are doing too much,” he added.

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Kolade alleged that security personnel frequently demanded money from motorists and residents, particularly on market days.

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“Sometimes officers like the Border Patrol collect N50,000 or N100,000 from people for minor issues. And if we report to their superiors, they won’t listen,” he alleged.

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He urged the government to take urgent action, saying, “The government should help us with this matter; they shouldn’t let this death be in vain. They should take action on it; they should work on it.”

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PUNCH Metro had reported on Friday that some youths reportedly set fire to two police station buildings in the community following the alleged killing.

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A community leader who spoke with our correspondent on Thursday on the condition of anonymity said Oniyiku, a Lagos-based resident, had returned to the community with some friends to celebrate the Oro festival when he was allegedly shot by policemen.

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The source said the incident occurred around Akinde Junction, on the Ifonyintedo axis, where he described the police facility as a makeshift checkpoint.

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According to him, the location had allegedly become notorious for harassment of motorists and commercial motorcyclists, which had led to outrage from residents a day earlier.

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When contacted earlier regarding the incident, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Babaseyi Oluseyi, promised to get back to our correspondent, but he had yet to do so at the time the report was published.

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Meanwhile, in a response to Daily Post about the incident, Oluseyi confirmed that the officers involved in the incident had been detained.

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