Connect with us

News

PDP demands probe into police conduct in death of 22-year-old Ntekim-Rex

Published

on

TARABA KILLING: IGP orders special security attention for clergies, places of worship

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for an inquest into the role played by the police in the killing of Master David Ntekim-Rex by suspected armed robbers in Jibowu, Lagos.

The PDP describes as irresponsible the reported refusal by police operatives to offer any help to save the life of the award winning 22-year-old computer system engineer, “but rather engaged in photo ops, as the promising young Nigerian continued to bleed.”

Ntekim-Rex in 2018 emerged as the co-regional winner of the annual Master the Mainframe competition, organised by AngelHack and IBM Z Academic Initiative, beating 17,000 others from around the world, including finalists from Brazil, Germany, India, Japan, Nepal, and the United States.

Responding to the circumstances leading to his death after he was shot, the PDP in a statement on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said:

“It is horrendous that while the victim gasped for breath, the police, who ought to have provided help and taken action to track down the assailants, reportedly took pictures of the dying youth and showed more interest in his laptop.

READ ALSO: Bandits kill four, abduct one in Kaduna fresh attack

“Our party holds that this action of the said police operative makes them culpable for failing in their statutory duties of saving lives, which also amounts to a very grievous offence under our laws and before humanity.”

In the same vein, the PDP expressed worry over the alleged refusal by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the Military Hospital to attend to the victim, leading to his eventual death.

The PDP claimed that the reported actions of the police and the hospitals were in clear violation of the “Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017”, which establishes the right of every person with gunshot wounds to be treated and also provides, as a duty, for security agents and agencies to assist such victims.

“Our party therefore calls on Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to immediately commence a full inquest into the roles played by his men and the hospitals in the unfortunate death of Citizen David Ntekim-Rex,” the PDP said.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now