Yoruba Nation Rally: Coroner Indicts Police In Jumoke Oyeleke’s Death

A Lagos State coroner yesterday indicted the police for the death of a 25-year-old salesgirl, Jumoke Oyeleke, who was killed during the Yoruba Nation rally held on July 3, 2021, in the Ojota area of the state.

The coroner, Magistrate Mukaila Fadeyi, who conducted the inquest concluded in his findings that the police shot the deceased and caused her untimely death.

Magistrate Fadeyi held that the only logical conclusion the court can make from its investigation is that the deceased died from a weapon by the Nigerian police.

He, therefore, recommended that the federal government should pay compensation to the family of the deceased.

The coroner also recommended that the Lagos State government should encourage the federal government to ensure proper training, retraining and reorientation of police officers on the right to hold protests in a democratic setting.

He further asked the Inspector General of Police to ensure a total overhaul of the police force to fish out the bag eggs and ensure that they are brought to book to forestall further accidental killings.

Magistrate Fadeyi also recommended that regular mental and medical check-ups should be instituted for police officers to determine their suitability to bear arms.

He concluded that access to Freedom Park should never be blocked or cordoned off in future and that no police officer detailed to protest rally grounds should be issued live bullets.