A Civil Society Stakeholders Group under the auspices of Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights, CHSR, has call on the Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu led Lagos State Government, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and Security Agencies in Nigeria to Wade into the gruesome murder of Sheriff Ishola Salami in Ajiran Land in Eti Osa Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.

The Group lamented that three months after the unfortunate incident, the Lagos State Government, especially the Police have refused to demonstrate seriousness or even convincing interest in the investigation of the callous murder.

At Press Briefing held today and presided over by CHSR President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, it said the apparent nonchalant of the police authority appears to be deliberate or orchestrated in spite of quest for justice by the immediate family of the deceased and concerned indigenes of the community.

In a Press Release signed by Omotehinse, it stated that the Rights Group had received a copy of the petition dated May 8, 2023 and submitted to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Police Force, Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone II, Onikan, Lagos on a the situation in Ajiran Land including a request for the probe into the murder of Sheriff Ishola Salami (a.k.a AGBOWORIN) who was a son of the late Bas of Ajiran Land, Chief Ishola Salami.

It stated that the said petition was forwarded on behalf of Ajiran Youth Movement by a solicitor: Omoyola and Co (Property Managers, Solicitors, Advocates and Arbitrators).

It added that In spite of quest for justice anchored on the statutory duty of the police, members of the immediate family of the deceased, are totally broken by the apparent lack of commitment to bringing the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.

He said that the immediate family of the deceased comprising his critically ill; aged mother, his wife Mrs. Mariam Ishola Salami and three young daughters, Sinata -5years plus, Ayisha – 4 years, and Arafat – 2 years are yet to be consoled that justice would be done to the memory of their loved breadwinner.

“The family of the deceased has been left to mourn their beloved son, husband and father without any glimmer of hope of getting justice since the law enforcement agencies; particularly the police charged with the responsibility of protection and conducting criminal investigation have not been forthcoming.

“The concerned indigenes of Ojomu community in Ajiran Land and the immediate family of the deceased are therefore demanding diligent investigation that would lead to the unraveling of the masterminds and accomplices in the cold-blooded murder of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami whose photograph is displayed on the banner for this press conference.

“The rank-and-file leadership of human rights community in Lagos State and by extension Nigeria are demanding that the new leadership of the Nigeria Police headed by Inspector General Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, the Lagos State Government and other Security Agencies should order credible investigation into the crisis in Ojomu community, in Ajiran Land prior to the ugly incident of April 18, 2023 leading to the murder of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami.

“We had highlighted the murder of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami in our previously petition to the immediate past Inspector General of Police, Mr. Alkali Baba and we would forward another letter to the new IGP as a follow-up to this press briefing.

“The human right community considers it utterly unacceptable that a cruel murder incident on Tuesday 18, April which was duly reported at the Ogombo police station, Lekki and followed up with a letter from an Attorney to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Police Force, Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone II, Onikan, Lagos in which amongst other issues; a demand into the probe of the murder has remained unattended three months after the incident”.

The Group is however demanding that the Lagos State government should compel the Lagos State Police Command to act without further delay in unraveling the perpetrators of the callous murder of the deceased.

It is also demanding that Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun to order full investigation into the remote cause of the murder of the deceased and those responsible, and also demanding further that the IGP should probe the delay in the investigation of the murder three months after the incident.

It added that there should be openness and transparency from police authority, particularly Nigeria Police Force, Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone II, Onikan, Lagos in respect of the murder case, and that the culprits in the murder no matter how highly placed be brought to book in the interest of justice.