CSOs Demand Urgent Police Investigation Into Alleged Murder of Ishola Salami

Civil Society groups, including the Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR), Frontline Socio-economic Research Centre (FSERC), Campaign Against Impunity (CIA), Centre for the Physically Challenged and Peoples Rights (CPCPR), Community Women Initiative (CWI) and Workbond Initiative Network (WIN) have called for investigations into the death of Mr Ishola Salami by the Nigeria Police.

Speaking on behalf of the groups in a press conference on Thursday, the President of CHSR, Mr Alex Omotehinse said that they considered "it pertinent to embark on advocacy and submission of petitions to draw the attention to the failure of the police in Ogombo, Eti-Osa, Lekki and Area 'J' Police Command  of Lagos State to investigate the gruesome murder of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami at MOBA town adjacent AJIRAN on Tuesday, April 18, 2023."   

Omotehinse stated that the deceased, Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami, was a leader of the youth in Ojomu community, Ajiran Land. 

According to him, following the murder of Mr. Sherriff Ishola Salami, they have made representations to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone II, Onikan, Lagos "via a petition to draw the attention to the indifference of the police and apparent lack of commitment to investigate the incident which was duly reported at Ogombo Police Station."

"We are by this advocacy joined by Mrs. Mariam Ishola Salami, the widow of the deceased submitting separate petitions to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) through the Lagos Office of the agency.   

"As civil society groups, we are deeply touched by the pain of the immediate family of the deceased. 

"The police authority in Lekki axis of Lagos State appears uninterested in investigating the murder which was perpetrated in broad day light," he said.

The activist added that "the immediate family members of the deceased are worried and frustrated by the delay that is increasingly assuming a deliberate ploy to shield the perpetrators of the heinous crime from justice."  

He added that "the deceased, who is the breadwinner of the family left behind his critically ill aged mother (who unfortunately died in her inconsolable state in the last week of October, 2023), his wife Mrs. Mariam Ishola Salami and three young daughters, Sinata (5years), Ayisha (4 years), and Arafat (2 years)."

He stated that they are now convinced that "8 months after the cold-blooded murder of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami, the police authority in Lagos State has failed in its statutory duty of investigation in spite of the fact that the incident was duly reported at the Ogombo Police Station, Lekki. 

"It is indeed sad that the family members of the deceased have, in the last 8 months, been left to mourn their beloved son, husband and father without any glimmer of hope of getting justice."

The groups then stated that by the submissions of the petitions, they are requesting that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command act without further delay in activating investigation into the murder. 

"We are also requesting that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the National Human Rights Commission should demand urgent action leading to thorough investigation into the gruesome murder without further delay," he said.