8 months after, police probe death of youth leader in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command said it has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a youth leader, Sheriff Salami, in Ojomu community in Ajiran land in Lagos State.

Salami was allegedly murdered on April 18, 2023, in Moba town close to Ajiran.

Worried by the delay in unraveling the circumstances of his death and in an effort to seek justice, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), in collaboration with other civil society groups, at the weekend, protested to the police command’s headquarters in Ikeja.

Speaking on behalf of the groups, Comrade Alex Omotehinse lamented the delay in investigating the death, noting that, “We have written petitions to AIG Zone 11. But the reason for today’s picketing of the Commissioner of Police (CP) is that some of the media confided in us that the PPRO of Lagos command said they (police) were not aware of the murder of Sheriff; that is why we are here today.”

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Responding to their demand for justice, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Waheed Ayilara, called for calm, assuring them that the police was on top of the case.

Also, the Lagos State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr Lucas Koyejo, who commended the CSHR’s effort, said everybody had the right to life.

He said, “It is the duty of the police to investigate. We are receiving this petition for the first time and we’ll ensure that justice is done. We’ll look at the case, we’ll go to the CP and know what they have done. I can assure you that your representatives will be getting feedback.”

Also, the widow of the deceased, Mariam Salami, pleaded for justice, saying that the incident surrounding her husband’s death was suspicious.

She said, “He had an issue with some boys in the community, and since then he was accused of collecting N20m from someone. After his death, I went to check his bank statement, he does not have any money.

“On that fateful day I went to work and I came back. I was told my husband was dead and buried. I was told that he was shot. There was no autopsy or police report of his death.”