Bolanle Raheem: Arms bearing officers must be mentally balanced, NHRC tells IGP

Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission has condemned the killing of a female lawyer, Barr. Bolanle Raheem by a police officer in Ajah, Lagos State and advised police authorities to ensure that armed bearing officers are mentally balance.

The Commission also pledge to monitor the process of investigation and prosecution of the errant officer by the police authorities to ensure that justice is adequately served.

A statement by the Commission’s Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Fatimah Mohammed, observed that the officer’s action falls short of standard operating procedure and professional ethics of the Nigerian Police Force.

The statement, conveyed the Commission Executive Secretary, Barr. Tony Ojukwu’s disappointment in the action of the officers despite efforts by the Commission to train officers of the Nigerian police on human rights best practices and mainstreaming of human rights in law enforcement operations.

Barr Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Chief Human Right officers vows to seek permanent solution to the extra-judicial killings by police officers.

He said, “There must be a permanent solution to check this form of avoidable killings by the police.”

He commended the proactive steps taking by the Police authorities to provide justice and commiserate with the family of the deceased and the Nigerian Bar Association.

An Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, was reported to have shot dead Bolanle, a pregnant mother of four on Christmas Day while returning from an eatery with some family members in Ajah. The police authorities in Lagos confirmed Vandi arrest on Monday.

According to reports, earlier in the month, one Gafaru Buraimoh was also shot dead by a yet-to-be-identified officer in Lagos.