The Take It Back Movement has successfully secured justice for 17-year-old Damilare Ibrahim, who was subjected to police extortion in Alagbado, Lagos state.
This case which has brought another renewed attention to the pervasive issue of police corruption in the country, had the intervention of the Take It Back (TIB) Movement’s Lagos branch, led by Adekunle Adeyemi Taofeek.
Adeyemi Taofeeq, along with some members of the Take It Back Movement assisted the 17-year-old Damilare Ibrahim in obtaining justice after he was unlawfully detained and extorted by officers from the Alagbado division in Lagos.
According to Taofeeq who is in direct contact with the victim, he said, “Damilare Ibrahim, a 17 years old teenager was dragged down from a commercial vehicle by men of the Nigeria Police Force, Alagbado division yesterday at a check point, he was made to call friends and family to raise the sum of 200k for his release but as a naive teenager who does not know his rights started calling friends and family but he was able to raise the sum of 55k. I see this as kidnap for ransom as he was not even taken to the station, all went down by the road side.”
Upon learning of the incident, Taofeek made it known that he contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Bamisaye Olalere, who immediately identified the officers involved and assured swift action against their misconduct, “Someone reached out to me regarding the aforementioned and I started making calls to know which division covers the area of the check point. My findings led me to Alagbado division which I put a call through to the DPO, I must confess the DPO is one of the finest police officers the force ever produced, he was swift to identify the officers and stood his ground that he will never allow nor welcome misconduct from his men.
“The DPO texted me this morning that the officers involved has been identified and detained and also ask the boy to come for a refund.
“As a naive young teenager, he was scared to go but I volunteered to go with him out of my busy schedule as I have other cases to attend to. We met with the DPO and the 55k was refunded while the officers involved in the extortion are in detention to face disciplinary action.”
Taofeek praised DPO Olalere as an exemplary officer, noting his efficiency in resolving the case. “We need more officers like him in the police force to create a better policing system in Nigeria,” said Taofeek.
This recent case adds to the movement’s growing track record of securing justice for victims of police extortion and brutality in Lagos state.
Last week, the Lagos branch also secured justice for a Lagos State University (LASU) student who was a victim of police brutality.
According to Taofeeq who gave a detailed account, he made it known that the incident occurred when officers attached to the Festac division assaulted Onikosi Hammed for speaking out against police oppression, “I received a call around past 7pm yesterday from the National Association of Nigeria students (NANS) southwest PRO, Comrade Kuku Isaiah Eromidayo who told me some men of the Nigeria Police Force attached to Festac division, Lagos brutally assaulted a LASU student, Onikosi Hammed on the allegation that he stood against oppression by men of the Nigeria police.”
Upon learning of the incident, Taofeek reached out to Area Commander Nwachukwu Eburujua of Area E, expressing concern and disappointment over the actions of the officers involved. Eburujua requested that Hammed visit his office to identify the responsible officers, “I reached out to the Area Commander, Area E showing displeasure on how officers under his jurisdiction are treating innocent citizens which I know he would also find disturbing.
“He (the Area Commander) requested the victim of the brutality to see him in his office this morning by 10am to identify the officers who brutally assaulted him. The victim met with the area commander alongside the NANS southwest coordinator and some students of the Lagos State university LASU, officers were identified, they were made to write statement and the area commander ordered they should be detained to face disciplinary action.”
“The swift action taken by Area Commander Nwachukwu Eburujua in this case sets an example for effective policing in Nigeria,” Taofeek stated. He continued, “By holding officers accountable and refusing to tolerate injustice, we can move towards a more functional and improved policing system for our country.”
“This isn’t the first time I’ve witnessed Area Commander Eburujua’s dedication to justice,” Taofeek shared. “In a previous incident, his intervention ensured the release of a young man who was unjustly accosted by police officers attempting extortion. With more officers like Eburujua, Nigeria can achieve the level of policing its citizens deserve.”, Taofeeq added.
Leave a Reply