Human Rights Group, VOHRI Petitions IGP Over Threat To Life, Attempted Murder of Members in Osun

Open Letter/Press Release

The Commissioner of Police, (CP)
Osun State Police Command Headquarter,
Ring Road,
Osogbo,
Osun State.

Sir,

A PETITION FOR URGENT ATTENTION AND REDRESS TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, (IGP), THE DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, (DIGP), THE ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, (AIGP), THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, (CP), THE CHAIRMAN, POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION, (PSC), THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, (NHRC), THE DIVISIONAL POLICE OFFICER, (DPO) AND OTHERS ON A CASE OF SERIOUS THREAT TO LIFE, MISUSE OF POWER/OFFICE, EXCESSIVE/UNLAWFUL ACT, COMPELLING ACTION BY INTIMIDATION, ASSAULT, ATTEMPTED MURDER, UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, UNLAWFUL SEIZURE, AND CONSPIRACY METED ON COMRADE SHAKRULLAH AYOBAMI AND HIS BROTHER, ABDUFATAH ADEBISI BY ASP NIYI, INSPECTOR EKITI AND OTHERS ATTACHED TO IWO POLICE DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS.


PREAMBLE
The Veteran Organization for Human Rights (VOHRI) is a civil rights group that is unequivocally committed to defending the rights of the people especially the downtrodden. VOHRI acts as defender of the defenseless and voice for the voiceless.

For many years, VOHRI has worked and cooperated with security agencies in Nigeria to bring down the level of criminality and criminal tendencies in the country and in the diaspora.

As a civil rights group, we will continue to wage war against oppression, human rights abuses, corruption and neocolonialism by all known legal means.

VOHRI carries out its work with sheer diligence and neutrality without regards to race, colour, creed or ethnic background of the people. Our primary aim is to eradicate oppression, intimidation, inhuman treatment, violence against the weak and the vulnerable in order to pave way for a new Nigeria where peace and peaceful-coexistence and justice shall reign supreme.

To this end, we are ready to join hands as a collective responsibility in cleansing the ever-dirty Nigerian Police Force and bring sanctity to the force.

We received with shock the report of an ugly incident involving our Lead Activist and his brother that were on their way coming from Iwo Town on a fact finding mission.

According to the Lead Activist, Comrade Ayobami Sakirullah, he and Comrade Fatai were returning from a humanitarian trip made to Iwo, when they got to Odo-Oba area adjacent Kings Hotel, Iwo and saw officers of the Iwo Police Divisional Police Station on "Stop and Search" . Their motorbike was stopped by the Police and the police officer on stand demanded for the motorbike particulars. These were presented to him. After careful scrutiny when the Policeman did not find any error on the particulars, he later demanded for Police clearance of the motorbike, this demand sounded strange to the Lead Activist.

The Lead Activist later went to meet with the team leader who demanded his phone. He opened and saw the recording, this infruated the ASP Niyi who seized the phones and asked him to leave his sight.

At this juncture, an Inspector among them started bragging and threatened to kill him. To the Comrade chagrin, the Inspector brought out native charms and started pursing the Comrade with charms and other dangerous weapons, when the Comrade sensed that the officers might kill him, he was fortunate to escape into the nearby bush. The second comrade in person of Abdulfatai was not allowed to move an inch and was held hostage. Meanwhile, Comrade Ayobami had to trek kilometres in the bush before he re-entered Iwo Township. There, he borrowed a phone to call other human rights activists at office to intimate them about the unfortunate incidence.

The Police led by ASP Niyi took Comrade Abdufatah to their station and asked his motorbike to be kept at the station.

It should be noted however, that police officers misconducts are ventilating wider in Nigeria Why the police headquarters sit and watch; that some Police Officers had the effontry to be moving with charms.

The duo of Comrade Ayobami, Abdufatah and others are law abiding citizens and would not result to self help to escape this act of Illegality, unprofessional conduct, inhumane treatment and therefore calls on the Police Disciplinary Unit and the Nigerian Police Headquarters to treat this matter as important and brought the erring Police Officers to book.

VOHRI demands nothing but justice in this matter. We are therefore appealing to you sir, to order thorough investigation into this case for justice to prevail. Justice delayed is justice denied. The renowned human Rights defender and legal Icon, Chief Gabi Fawehinmi said that we should always stand for Justice even though, one is fighting alone.

We appreciate your work and activities towards maintenance of peace and order in our society. We pray that the Creator of heaven and earth continue it protect and uphold you.

We rely on your prompt intervention and usual unbiased investigation in this regard.

Thank you.

E-Signed
Comrade Badmus Tunde
PRO, Veteran Organisation for Human Rights
+2348062135408