A group under the banner of The Concerned Citizens yesterday urged the authorities of the Nigeria Police to bring to justice officers of the force involved in the death of a farmer, Olatunji Jimoh.
Jimoh, a native of Ilorin, allegedly died in the custody of Kwara State Police Command on December 20 , 2024 after some policemen arrested him for owing one Gabriel Sunday, a staff of Olam Offa, a sum of N220,000.
Members of the deceased family had since raised suspicion about the circumstances surrounding the passing of the deceased, saying that there was more to meet the eye.
They alleged that bloodstain was sighted within the cell where Jimoh was kept, contrary to the insinuation that his transition was natural.
At a press conference in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, the convener of The Concerned Citizens, Owolabi Tayo, said the three police officers who allegedly denied the deceased bail should be thoroughly investigated and brought to justice if found culpable.
He spoke at the briefing alongside members of the family of the deceased.
Tayo, who described the incident as premeditated and a continuation of oppression of the poor, warned against any ploy to sweep the matter under the carpet.
He called for the restitution of the havoc caused to the family of the slain Olatunji Jimoh.
“The family is crying out to the public and the Nigeria Police Force to help thoroughly investigate the case so that it will not be swept under the carpet.”
Tayo demanded welfare for the two children and parents of the deceased so as to ameliorate their suffering.
The legal representative of Olatunji Jimoh’s family, Barr. Olukayode Oloyede, urged the authorities to ascertain the cause of the deceased’s death.
He wondered that despite the issues surrounding the death of Jimoh, no autopsy had been performed to set the records straight.
“Police brutality is not strange, and citizens have expressed concern about this. Rather than positive change, things are getting worse. And in the case of Olatunji Jimoh, are we going to fold our arms and allow things slide like that, No!
“In a just society, it is a crime to be silent. We need to know the cause of Olatunji Jimoh’s death. As we speak, result of the autopsy is not out, giving room for suspicion. The deceased left behind two kids, we should be concerned about their future”, Oloyede said.
The mother of the deceased, Mrs Adijat Jimoh, appealed to the government and public spirited individuals to assist the family with the education and upkeep of the children the deceased left behind.
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