IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The death of a female lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, in the Ajah area of Lagos on Christmas Day, has continued to spark outrage on social media.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning when the deceased and her family were together in a car.
The 41-year-old lawyer was allegedly shot by a trigger-happy Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) who is currently in custody, according to the spokesperson for the Lagos State police command, Benjamin Hundeyin.
“The ASP who shot [Bolanle] and two others with him have since been taken into custody,” Hundeyin tweeted on Monday.
“Unfortunate and avoidable incident that was. The ASP that shot and two others with him have since been taken into custody. They are to be moved to the SCID for further investigation,” Hundeyin said on his Twitter handle, @BenHundeyin.
He also said the policemen would be moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti for further investigation.
“The Lagos State police command condoles with the family, friends and colleagues of Barrister Bolanle Raheem. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State command, Abiodun Alabi, has been in touch with the family and the Nigeria Bar Association since yesterday [Sunday] and has given firm assurances that justice will definitely prevail,” he added.
The Christmas Day incident was not the first as a similar incident had recently occurred in the area.
Earlier, a 31-year-old man identified as Gafaru Buraimoh of Land Estate, Ajah was also shot dead by a police officer attached to the same police division (Ajiwe).
Social media has been awash with comments from Nigerians who expressed anger over the development.
Celebrity designer, Toyin Lawani, who had a relationship with the lawyer, while reacting to her demise revealed the deceased was pregnant.
Sharing a video via her Instagram account on Monday, Lawani revealed her relationship with the deceased, their last chat and more.
She said: “Look, I cried myself to sleep but it is not a joke, Bolanle is gone. She still chatted with me last week. She is very peaceful, her husband always ready to go… they don’t have ‘wahala’ and I heard this morning that she was shot by the police at Ajah.
“She went to buy pizza for Christmas, for her daughter, she was shot in front of her daughter. The police asked them to park and there was a car in front of them, they were about to park not like they were moving or anything and they shot her in the chest. She died on the spot.
“She is pregnant. Nigeria police, when are you people going to stop giving these drunkards (in) uniforms. These people on the road, they will be disturbing everybody’s peace for no reason, trying to extort money from people. Christmas Day, Bolanle! Haaa! Oh my God! We must all make sure that we support her, make sure whoever did this to her pays for his crime.”
Skit maker and front-runner of EndSARS Movement, @mrmacaronii said: “A Nigerian police officer from Ajiwe division shot and killed Bolanle Raheem on Christmas Day. It is from this same division an officer killed Gafaru Buraimoh about two weeks ago. This barbarism by the Nigeria Police must come to an end. These murderers must pay for their crimes!”
“Why can’t we just have festivities without avoidable sorrow? Bolanle Raheem wasn’t a criminal, she’s just a mother who took her four kids to an eatery. But a mad, trigger-happy and most likely drunk policeman cut her life short. Leaving four kids without their Mom,” @NigeriaHeist reacted to Raheem’s sudden death.
@Toksadee weighed in, stating: “Bolanle Raheem’s death was so needless. I don’t wish any Nigeria policeman well. I have no goodwill to- wardstheentireforce.Why shoot fgs! It’s beyond heart- breaking.”
Human Rights Lawyer and Activist @InibeheEffiong wrote: “A lawyer, Bolanle Ra- heem, is reported to have been shot and murdered at close range on Christmas Day by a rogue policeman attached to Ajiwe Police Division, Ajah. This is barbaric. It is a sad commentary that despite EndSARS, Nigerians are still being slaughtered by the police.”
“This time yesterday, Barrister Bolanle Raheem was still alive. She was probably getting ready to head to church. Unknown to her she would be killed by men in uniform who are paid to protect her from harm. What a country,” stated (@ENIBOY)
In the same vein, @drPenking tweeted: “If Nigeria can happen to Barristers who know their rights, where is the hope of the common man? RIP Bolanle Raheem.”
@Chrisededhor said a directive needs to be given to police officers on patrol not to be in possession of firearms.
“It’s time the @PoliceNG direct its officers on patrol and vehicular inspection within our communities and cities not to be in possession of firearms. Punishing the officer who shot Bolanle Raheem alone won’t meet the justice of the situation given the recurrence of this act.”