In a bizarre case of a the hunter becoming the hunter, three police officers stretched their luck in what observers say is criminal profiling of young people going awry. They have a date with the lady justice of a killing of a young student, writes NICHOLAS UWERUNONYE......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Abiodun Kayode, James Emmanuel, and Mr. Oni Philip, were shadows of what they used to be when fully kitted in any of the regular police fatigue, that morning of 16, October at a magistrate court, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. They were men who brought suspects to face justice. But after their disgrace and dismissal, the tables have turned; they now stand before lady justice hoping for mercy, a quality that the family of late Qoyum Abdulyekeen Ishola and great number of the student body at the Kwara State Polytechnic, the deceased’s school, say is sadly lacking in the Nigerian Police dealings with members of the public these days.
According to their charge sheet for that day, they would be undergoing trials over what their former employers, the police, say are criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide in connection with the death of Ishola, brutally killed on 4, September while the trio were supposed to be on duty.
After a brief hearing, the men were remanded in the correctional custody, awaiting the kick off of the legal proceedings. But for many avid followers of the case, particularly the kith, kin and friends of the late poly student cut down in the prime of youth, the trio of Kayode, Emmanuel and Phillip are not the only ones trial.
“The entire police force in Kwara and beyond are being tried along with these suspects,” explained Ibrahim Orisankoko, one of the observers at the court on that day. According to him, for far too long, police in Ilorin regularly profile young people, especially students with the aim of shaking them down.
“There have been several reports of police routinely picking up young people simply for extortion purposes, we are waiting to see how these will go,” he said.
The travail of the three remanded ex-police officers began
On 4, September at about 5.00 pm, a certain Abdulrahman Ero-Alujana who lived at No. F6 Alagbon Compound, Oke Adini in Ilorin, received a call from his brother, Yakubu, stating that his grandson was found lying in a pool of blood along Afolabi Olaleye Street, near Kayowa Filling Station.
Upon arriving at the scene, he found his grandson, Ishola in a pool of blood. Ishola, before his death, alleged that a policeman had attacked him. Abdulrahman rushed him to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The matter created a storm at the Polytechnic where Ishola attended upon which the police high command were drafted in to placate the families and the student body. The Kwara State Polytechnic Students’ Union Government also issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the state police command to address killing or be faced with sustained and embarrassing protest and picketing marches.
“We will be left with no choice but to heed the pressure from the majority of our student members who have called for a peaceful, unceasing and unrelenting protest to fight for justice,” declared the Students’ Union Government at a press conference in Ilorin, led by its President, Saheed Olalekan Ishola.
They further surmised that the police even after the killing have shown insensitivity.
“Less than 24 hours after the unfortunate incident, police officers were spotted on the same route, harassing and extorting innocent young people who were going about their daily lives peacefully. Their only offense was being students—young and good-looking.”
First, the police convened an orderly room trial of the officers from which certain facts emerged. Firstly, both Kayode and Emmanuel were ranked as inspectors, while Phillip is a sergeant. It was quickly established too, that alongside being involved in the killing of Ishola, the officers were also guilty of ‘Leaving their Beat; Corrupt Practices and Unlawful or Unnecessary Exercise of Authority.
“As a result, they have been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force, effective October 4, 2024,” explained DSP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Police Public Relations Officer.
According to her, the action underscores the commitment of Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, NPM, PhD, to uphold justice, professionalism, and accountability within the Nigeria Police Force.
“Under his leadership, we are determined to ensure all officers act with integrity, and any breaches of ethical standards, especially those leading to loss of life, will be addressed rigorously,” she added.
The following day, the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, Victor Olaiya, then directed the Criminal Investigation Department in Ilorin, Kwara State, to investigate the matter.
According to the First Information Report on the matter obtained by Sunday Independent, the police investigation led to the arrest of Kayode, Emmanuel and Philip.
They were principally implicated in Abdulyekeen Abdulquyum’s death. It was revealed in the course of their investigations that the three suspects, former police officers dismissed from duty, left their post at Fate Roundabout and confronted Abdulyekeen, chasing and stabbing him before abandoning him.
During the investigation, Philip admitted to pursuing Abdulyekeen on Kayode Abiodun’s orders and leaving him to inform Kayode and James. The investigation further confirmed that Kayode, Emmanuel, Philip conspired to cause Abdulyekeen Abdulquyum’s death by chasing, stabbing, and leaving him in his pool of blood.
“They are charged with criminal Conspiracy and homicide,” the FIR summarized.