WACOL, a renowned non-governmental organization, has denounced the death of Barr. Omobolanle Raheem by a happy-trigger police officer, ASP Drambi Vandi.
This was said in a statement signed by WACOL’s Executive Director, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, and distributed to journalists in Enugu.
Prof. Ezeilo, who called on the Nigerian government, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian police force, and the judiciary to bring ASP Drambi Vandi and all his accomplices to justice as soon as possible, described the crime as brutal, terrible, ludicrous, ridiculous, and savage.
“Women Aid Collective (WACOL), a reputable Non-Governmental Organisation with observer status with the United Nations has condemned in strong terms the killing of Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, a pregnant mother, and lawyer by a trigger-happy Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, who is attached to Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah, Lagos State.
“This unfortunate incident comes barely two years after the END SARS saga that brought to light the despicable acts and atrocities of some members of the Nigerian Police Force who have turned from protecting the lives of the citizenry to taking the same arbitrarily, and barely after a week Gafaru Buraimoh, a resident of Happy Land Estate in Ajah, was killed by a stray bullet from a trigger happy inspector attached to the same division of the Nigeria Police force.
“Section 33(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN), 1999, provides that “every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offense of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria”. We take the risk of saying that this beautiful provision of our Constitution has been exploited over and again, and now is the time to respond.
“The death of Omobolanle Raheem must not be pushed under the rug like the others. A Nigerian citizen’s right to life must not be placed in the hands of the police or any other individual who believes that his neighbor is unfit to live unless we want to nurture a chaotic society that will haunt all of us.
“How can we reasonably explain that a trained policeman pulled the trigger at a vehicle with unarmed ladies and children on Christmas day? This is cruel, inhumane, absurd, ridiculous, and barbarous. It is a crime against humanity, and someone must be held accountable.
“To this end, WACOL offers her voice to call on the Nigerian Government, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian police force, and the Judiciary to as a matter of urgency, properly investigate, identify blame, and bring to justice ASP Drambi Vandi and all his collaborators. This would serve as a deterrence to anyone who believes the law is deafeningly mute in the face of criminality.
“Train and Re-train the members of the police force in the rules of engagement and the standard operating procedures (S.O.P) to avoid a repeat of such crimes.
“Section 33(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN), 1999, provides that “every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offense of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria”. We take the risk of saying that this beautiful provision of our Constitution has been exploited over and again, and now is the time to respond.
