A advocacy group, Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has urged the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun and the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to investigate the assassination of Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye.
Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye, a son of His Royal Highness, Oba Tijani Akinloye, Sateru II, the Ojomu of Ajiranland in Eti Osa Local Government area of Lagos State, was gruesomely assassinated in broad daylight on the ever busy Chevron Drive along the Lekki axis of Lagos State on Monday, August 26, 2024.
According to reports, the deceased was waylaid by assailants who shot and macheted him to death.
CHSR said in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, and made available to newsmen, that “while the motive of the assailants could only be ascertained after thorough police investigation, it is however imperative to emphasise that the manner of his death followed the pattern of the gruesome murder of one Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami at MOBA town adjacent Ajiran on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
The group stated that “the assassination of Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye should, no doubt, be deemed callous, wanton and unacceptable in a sane society under the rule of law.
“We therefore wish to again reassert our earlier position that no citizen should be allowed to suffer double jeopardy as victim of senseless killings by a group of individuals who consider themselves untouchable or too connected to be apprehended and brought to book by the law enforcement agencies.”
They however, demanded prompt and transparent investigations into the assassination of Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye.
“We call on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun and the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to openly condemn the assassination of Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye and to order full investigation to be conducted by officers of high integrity that would not be compromised.
“We wish to maintain that only unbiased and transparent investigation can unravel the killers of Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye and those connected with the assassination of Mr. Sherrif Ishola Salami.
“We wish to call on the media to join forces with us and other public-spirited individuals as well as groups to demand full investigations into the murders of two sons of Ojomu communities in Lagos.We value your attention and continued support in defence of rule of law in the collective interest of our shared humanity, “ Omotehinse said.
CHSR noted that it should be in public interest for the police to prioritise the investigation of the assassination of Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye and the earlier incident involving Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami to ascertain the immediate and remote causes considering concerns and fears elicited amongst the native inhabitants and cross sections of residents of Ojomu community of Ajiran land, Lagos.
Speaking in an interview with the press at the burial of Prince Kazeem Akinloye at Ikoyi Cemetery, Lagos, the General Secretary of Eti-Osa Indigenes Forum, Alhaji Oloye Okunmoyibo Mustapha, said that the killing of Prince Kazeem Akinloye was condemnable and barbaric.
Mustapha then called on the security agencies to investigate the death, adding that Prince Kazeem Akinloye was a loving fellow that would be greatly missed.
“We leave everything to God and the Police. We want the state government and the security agencies to investigate the killing and protect the residents of the area as killings have become recurring decimal in the area.
“Prince Akinloye was a sports-loving man and an agriculture expert. He was the Vice Chairman of Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria, Eti-Osa chapter,” he said.
Also speaking, a close friend of Prince Akinloye, Mr Dayo Joshua, said that he was short of words over the incident, saying that the incident was unfortunate and urged the police to investigate the killing.