#EndSARS: Police say officers involved in killing of Kolade Johnson now in custody

The police have revealed that officers who were involved in the brutal murder of a Nigerian, Kolade Johnson have been arrested.

Johnson, 36, was reportedly killed after being hit by a stray bullet fired by officers attached to police special anti-cultism squad in the Mangoro area of Lagos State on Sunday, March 31, 2019.

In a statement on Monday signed by DSP Bala Elkana, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State, the police said, “On 31/03/2019 at about 5.05pm, the Command received a distress call that Lagos- Abeokuta Express Way has been blocked by some angry youths who were protesting the shooting of one Kolade Johnson m of No.1 Beco street, Onipetesi, Mangoro Bus Stop by a team of Policemen from Anti Cultism unit. A team of policemen from the Rapid Response Squads and Metro patrol were promptly drafted to the scene. The account of eye witnesses helped in identifying the team which fled the scene immediately after the incident.

“Members of the team suspected to be involved in the shooting have since been arrested and are currently in Police custody undergoing interrogation.

“They will be subjected to internal disciplinary procedures, and may be prosecuted in conventional Court if implicated by ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, CP Zubairu Muazu mni calls for calm, assuring that justice will prevail in this case.

“The CP also condoles with the family, friends and well wishers of Kolade Johnson. The CP has promised to initiate far reaching reforms to help in repositioning the Anti Cultism Squad for effective service delivery particularly in areas of respect for Human Rights & proficiency in the use of firearms. Members of the Public who have complaints on the activities of Anti Cultism Squad or any of our Police teams should call the following numbers 08063299264, 08065154338 and 08060357795, please”.

According to Premium Times report, a police official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, put the number of arrested officers at three. He said, “Three police officers have been arrested now in Lagos for the trouble they have caused the man’s family and Nigeria as a whole.

“An orderly room trial will be conducted against the officers, and, if found guilty, they will be summarily discharged from the police and charged to court for murder.”

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The police chief also indicated the possibility of the officers involved in the controversial raid are more than three.

“We have learnt at the Force Headquarters that the officers might be more than three, and we have given the police commissioner in Lagos a strict instruction to make sure that all those involved are identified, and punished, no matter their ranks,” the officer added.

Meanwhile, Johnson’s killing has led to a resurgence of the outrage against the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) who, although not responsible for the recent killing, have become the face of police brutality and impunity in the country due to past conducts.

Many Nigerians took to social media with the hashtag #EndSARS, #PoliceReforms and #EndPolicebrutality, to air their displeasure with Johnson’s killing and called for the scrapping of FSARS, as well as the implementation of meaningful police reform to curb brutality unleashed on helpless citizens.

Also Amnesty International reacting on the issue said despite repeated calls in recent years, “the Nigerian justice system has failed to prevent or punish torture. Despite @MBuhari signing into law the Anti-Torture Bill @PoliceNG torture Nigerians with impunity.”

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