LAGOS RITUAL KILLING: SUSPECT BOAST OF MONEY, POLICE CONNECTION TO ESCAPE JUSTICE – RIGHTS MONITOR
Late Abd-Kudus Anifowose
The father of a 14 year old boy, Abdul Qudus, recently killed in Ikorodu area of Lagos State has cried out to the office of the Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) to intervene in the ongoing investigation by Lagos State Police Command at the State Criminal Investigating Department, SCID, Panti, over the misery surrounding the death of the boy who is claimed to be an Afis of Quran (one that can recite the Holy Qur’an offhand).
The cry out was informed by a threat from the immediate senior sister to the prime suspect, Daniel Ameh, to ensure that the ongoing investigation would be halted by the family with all their networks.
The deceased father, Alhaji Taofeek Anifowose in his report to RightsMonitor said: “Daniel sister told one of our family friends that now that we have transferred the matter to SCID Panti, they will show us that it is only a matter of money and connections with police leadership”
” One hour after that message, the D.P.O of Igbogbo Division, Babalola Sharafa, who was initially opposing the ritual killing and insisted that we move the matter to Panti, now led some police officers to the suspect’s house in an attempt to assist in packing their belongings away from the comunity.
This was heavily resisted by concerned members of the community, who are also presently monitoring every move around the compound”.
The Human Rights Monitoring Agenda has however promptly written to the state police commissioner to demand for prompt state action to fully uncover the mystery around the killing.
The letter signed by HURMA Executive Director, Comrade Buna Olaitan Isiak and submitted to office of the Lagos Police Commissioner with a copy sent to SCID Panti, today Wednesday 23, October reads in part:
“We wish to hereby call on the office of the C.P to particularly show special interest in uncovering the mystery surrounding the recent killing of a 14 year old boy, Kudus Anifowose in Igbogbo commuity area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
According to report from the father of the deceased, the boy got missing on Monday, October 14 and the matter was reported at Igbogbo Division of the Nigeria Police Force. His body was later found in an uncompleted building few houses away, but with eyes, tongue, intestines and private part missing on Friday, October 18.
According to general reports so far gathered, the prime suspect of the killing is an undergraduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Daniel Ameh, who some people believe is working directly with his grandmother, with whom he resides.
Daniel was last seen with Kudus while taking him away when he was last seen alive. Moreso, a report from a Lagos Anti-Cultism and Anti-Kidnapping tracked a private number to belong to Daniel.
Also, the grandmother, a commuity Woman Leader, testified that it was Daniel that killed the boy when commuity members were accusing her of the evil act since the boy remains was traced to her compound.
“Although, the matter presently being investigated at the homicide section at the SCID, Panti, the community is under serious unrest. This according to report at our office, was because a sister to Daniel, the prime suspect, threatened a relative of the late boy that they will use their network in the police and the general society, to ensure that the matter died naturally. Few hours to the message, the D.P.O of Igbogbo Division led some police officers to pack the properties of the accused family. This was however heavily resisted by concerned members of the community. Moreso, the grandmother who was initially detained along Daniel at SCID Panti has been released, according to the I.P.O.
“Our office, from recent experience will continue to assure the general public on the uncompromising nature of the current leadership of the Nigeria Police Force. This is based on clear demonstration of commitment to professionalism, transparency and accountable policing, especially in crime fighting and protection of human rights.”
