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Tinubu, Obi, Atiku Condemn Killing of Lagos Lawyer, Bolanle Raheem
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, have condemned the killing of a Lagos State-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, by a trigger-happy policeman in the Ajah area of the state on Sunday.
Mrs Raheem was killed while returning from an eatery with some family members on Christmas Day under the Ajah Bridge by a cop, identified as ASP Drambi Vandi.
Taking to their Twitter pages, the presidential candidates both condemned Raheem’s killing and called for police reform to enable the men of the Nigerian Police Force attain international best practices and global policing standards.
The APC candidate, in his post wrote, “I share the grief and frustration of Nigerians over the senseless killing of Mrs. Ombolanle Raheem by a police officer on Christmas Day in Lagos.
“The avoidable tragedy, which cost a family a beloved member and our country a diligent legal professional, underscores, yet again, the crucial importance and urgency of reforming the Nigeria Police Force.
“The important institution must live up to its constitutional mandate of protecting the people and keeping the peace. Encounters with law enforcement agents should not result in death, injury, or undue harassment for law-abiding citizens. That is unacceptable.
“While I send my sincere condolences to Omobolanle’s family, I urge the Inspector General of Police and other responsible authorities to ensure speedy justice in the matter and demonstrate even greater dedication to the nationwide implementation of measures designed to uphold professionalism within the force.”
Similarly the LP flag bearer, Obi, tweeted, “I am shocked by the mindless killing of Mrs. Bolanle Raheem by a trigger-happy policeman on a Christmas day. Her death is a huge loss to her immediate and extended family. Like I’ve always said, a well trained and professional police officer will not engage in police brutality.
“Her killing, and the loss of many innocent lives across the nation to trigger-happy policemen, is the reason why I will embark on immediate and intrusive security sector reform and governance (SSRG).
“Relatedly, we must improve the functioning and effectiveness of the police by strengthening their civilian oversight as well as increasing their strength, material, financial allocation, and enhanced professional training. Our national policing strength must be relative to our national population and meet global standards.
“We must not allow the waste of human lives in Nigeria under any guise. May the soul of Late Mrs. Bolanle Raheem rest in perfect peace. My sincere condolence to her family.”
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, on his part, also condemned the killing of the lawyer.
Atiku, in a post on his Facebook page wrote, “The shooting of Bolanle Raheem by a police officer is heartbreaking and stands condemned. This latest shooting calls to attention the urgent need for police reforms that will sanitise the force and bring it in line with best policing practices.
“I call on the police authorities and the justice system to expedite action on the matter, as justice delayed is justice denied. This will serve as a deterrent to the incidents of irresponsible shooting of innocent citizens by law enforcement agents.”
A graduate of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, who recently moved from litigation practice to property law, the deceased was a 41-year-old mother, was seven-month pregnant when the tragedy struck.
She was the Chief Executive Officer of Croston Homes and co-founder, City Building, a real estate and property development company.
The police have since condemned Raheem’s killing and the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, via a tweet on Monday described the incident as unfortunate and avoidable. He revealed that the said policeman and his team members had been arrested and the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.
Similarly, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, has condemned the killing and has ordered a speedy investigation and prosecution of all police officers involved.
The Nigerian Bar Association has also said it would ensure that justice is served in the case of Raheem, adding that the case would be monitored closely by the association to ensure justice is served.
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
