Alleges Victim Was Shot in Head and His Car Set Ablaze
- Safiu Kehinde
Global human rights organization, the Amnesty International Nigeria has reminded Nigerians of alleged extrajudicial killing of a citizen 16 years after his death .
The humanitarian group brought to the fore the case of ModebayoAwosika in an X post on Monday.
According to Amnesty , the Police claimed that the victim died in a purported incident which occurred on the 1st of October 2008, when he allegedly crashed his car into a ditch which caught fire, leading to his death.
However, coroner’s report revealed that Awosika was allegedly shot in the head with his car set ablaze by suspected officers of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad.
The group called for further investigation into the case.
“On 1 Oct. 2008, police officers of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad shot Modebayo Awosika in the head and then set his car on fire.
“An autopsy showed that he had died of a gunshot. But police told the coroner that Modebayo Awosika’s car hit the police patrol vehicle.
The same police also claimed, the vehicle of Modebayo Awosika crashed into a ditch and caught fire.
“The coroner’s inquest into the death of Modebayo Awosika uncovered police misconduct.
“The coroner ordered the police to investigate the case. There was no investigation.” Amnesty wrote.
Amnesty’s statement came amidst growing condemnation of the police over alleged abuse of the rights of the citizens.
Just last week, the Leader of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom Kemi Badenoch, a Nigerian-British politician, had alleged abuses by the Nigerian Police as part of the reasons for her disdain for the country.
The British politician had accused the Nigerian police of stealing her brothers shoes and money when accosted.
Amnesty International had in the past released reports about abuse of the rights of citizens.
The Police had consistently refused all allegations of abuse of rights.