Lagos DPO kills apprentice during raid on birthday party
Published May 9, 2017
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• Jamiu •Sympathisers Photos: Afeez Hanafi
Afeez Hanafi
The tragic death of a 23 - year- old apprentice tailor, Jamiu Ayoade , has caused grief in Ijeshatedo, Lagos State .
Jamiu was allegedly shot dead by the Divisional Police Officer of the Ijesha Police Station , identified as Muhammed Yakubu .
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PUNCH Metro learnt that Jamiu , who lived on Oke- Onijo Street , had gone to Wosilatu Daudu , a neighbouring street , to attend a birthday party of a friend , Abubakar Animashaun , around 4 pm on Sunday .
It was gathered that the DPO and his men went on surveillance to the venue around 5 pm , and left a few minutes after they were told of what the event was all about .
About two hours later , the team was said to have returned to the area in a van, announcing their presence with blaring of sirens and gunshots , which scared away the fun seekers .
The DPO reportedly followed some people, including Jamiu , who ran to safety in a building . He was said to have shot Jamiu at a close range with his service pistol .
An eyewitness , who claimed to be the brother of the birthday boy , Jelili Bakare , told PUNCH Metro that the policemen fled the scene, immediately Jamiu was hit by a bullet.
He said , “ Some policemen came around 5 pm when the event just started . They asked a woman called Iya Aliya what was going on . She told them that it was a birthday party and they left . Around 7 . 30 pm, I was sitting with my friends outside when I heard the blaring of police sirens . The van stopped some distance to the venue of the party and some policemen, led by the DPO , came out and started shooting . People ran helter - skelter . Many people fell into a gutter .
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“ The DPO brought out a pistol and chased some people into a passage . He shot twice at them. A bullet hit Jamiu in the head , while another person , Akeem , was shot in the hand. Immediately they saw the harm they had caused , they entered their van and fled . We went to the Ijesha Police Station , but we were not allowed to make a report . We then went to the Itire Police Division , but we were directed back to the Ijesha division .
“ Nobody was fighting that would have warranted the police action . Around 9 pm , the DPO and his men came back in about five vans . Nobody was arrested .
“ This morning ( Monday ) , we were invited to the secretariat of the Itire -Ikate Local Council Development Area . We narrated what happened to an official called Mrs. Raji . She called the DPO on the telephone and he met us in her office .
“ The woman told us to excuse them. After their discussion , the woman called us in . She said the DPO told her that Jamiu had a case with the police . I was shocked . I told the woman that the boy was an apprentice and easy -going. He did not drink or smoke and had never been arrested before . The woman said I should not worry . ”
Animashaun , who was marking his 22 nd birthday , said he had yet to recover from the shock , adding that he was pained Jamiu was killed for no just cause .
“ I didn ’ t know the mission of the policemen at the venue because there was no fight . Jamiu was a decent person . He was my friend . It was the DPO that shot him , ” he added .
Jamiu ’ s brother, Taofiq Ayoade , said the victim was rushed to a private hospital in the community from where he was referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital , Idi -Araba .
“ He gave up the ghost on the way to LUTH . He was not a suspect . He was learning tailoring and was supposed to graduate this year . He was not a criminal . He would leave for his workplace around 9 am and come back by 8 . 30 pm . He was 23 . Our mother lives in Abeokuta , Ogun State . The officer that killed him must face the consequence of his action , ” he said .
Taofiq added that the deceased was buried on Monday ( yesterday) in accordance with Islamic rites .
Jamiu ’ s stepsister , Mrs. Sadiat Ogunsola , said she had been catering to the victim since their father died a few years ago .
She said , “ Jamiu would never complain or argue with you , and he didn ’ t foment trouble . He was still at home around 3 pm . He had finished his secondary school education , but could not register for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination due to financial challenge .
“ We planned that he should finish his vocation this year and register for the examination next year. We are still trying hard to console the mother . Nothing can bring him back , but justice must prevail . ”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer , ASP Olarinde Famous- Cole , confirmed the raid in a text message , but was silent on the killing .
He said , “ There was an incident relating to a raid on some suspected cult members in the Ijesha area of Lagos . Arrest of a suspect has been made , while investigation is ongoing . Further details will be communicated soon . ”
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