The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed concern over the incessant killing of civilians by police officers in Kwara State.
Chairman of the Ilọrin branch of NBA, Sulyman Mohammed-Hassan Kosemani, expressed this concern during a visit to the family of the late Tunji Abdulqodir, who was allegedly tortured to death in police custody over N220,000 debt.
This incident has raised concerns regarding the treatment of individuals in custody and prompted the NBA’s action.
Speaking during the visit, the NBA chairman said the tragic incident marked the third reported case this year involving the death of innocent Nigerians at the hands of police officers in the state.
“The previous cases, including the death of a student of Kwara State Polytechnic and the incident at Tanke Tipper Garage involving officers from the Ganmo Police Division, underscore a disturbing pattern of excessive force and a lack of accountability within law enforcement agencies”, he noted.
He said the NBA was troubled by these recurring incidents and the apparent failure to protect the rights and lives of citizens.
He assured Abdulqodir’s family that the association’s human rights committee would assist them in seeking justice for his death.
Meanwhile, the NBA delegation also visited the state police command to communicate their decision to pursue the case diligently until justice is served to the deceased family.