Olasore
The remains of 32-year-old Dapo Olasore,
who was allowed to drown by officers of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency, have been recovered by residents of the Agboyi
Community in the Alapere area of Lagos State.
It was learnt that the body of the victim floated around 9pm on Monday.
PUNCH Metro had reported that
the Law graduate was about boarding a canoe on Sunday when some officers
of the NDLEA stormed the area in two unregistered vehicles.
It was learnt that the officers, who had
come to arrest a suspected drug dealer, Saheed, began shooting
sporadically into the air, sending frightened residents scampering for
safety.
Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Metro that some of the officials went to where the victim was and held him by the trousers.
He was said to have fallen into the Agboyi River while trying to free himself.
Our correspondent reported that a boat operator, Dayo Seun, who attempted to rescue him, was scared away.
Seun said the NDLEA men pointed guns at him and prevented him from rescuing the drowning man, leading to his death.
The remains of the Ibadan, Oyo State
indigene, reportedly floated on Monday, after efforts to locate him on
Sunday proved abortive.
A resident and friend of the victim, Tosin Oshin, told our correspondent of the development on the telephone.
He said, “His remains have been found.
His body floated around 9pm some distance away from where he drowned; it
was bloated and smelly.”
PUNCH Metro was told that
relatives of the victims had started arriving from Temide Olorunshogo,
Ibadan, and were making efforts to get a police report for the burial.
It was learnt that the matter was reported at the Alapere Police Division.
“Those living in the community said they
will be the ones to bury him after some traditional rites. But they are
insisting on getting a police report to avoid any problems with the
authorities,” he added.
The elder brother of the victim, Bolarin
Olasore, said he received the news with shock, adding that the family
was concerned with Dapo’s burial.
“I still spoke with him last Saturday
and he said he would come to see me in Ibadan. I had gone for a birthday
party when I heard the news. We are all sad because he was a good son.
“I have come down from Ibadan to represent the family and plan his burial with the village head.
“The family has also instructed me that
we should not drag any case with the NDLEA because there is nothing that
can compensate for his life. He still has a five-year-old kid and an
aged mother and we all are grieving. Starting a case could compound the
situation because they will start saying we should exhume his corpse and
do all kinds of things.”
Meanwhile, readers of The PUNCH online have called for the arrest and prosecution of the NDLEA officers involved in the tragic raid.
A reader, Ijele James, said, “Nigeria,
we are killing our children. God will judge these foolish devils who
watched a young man drown; there is payback time.
“Uniform and gun in Nigeria equal to
kill and go. Why won’t these idiots go and face Boko Haram? Government,
over to you; bring these vandals to justice.”
Another reader, Toyenro, faulted the
claim by the NDLEA spokesperson, Mitchel Ofoyeju, that the agency was
not aware of anybody drowning, adding that the officers were poorly
trained.
“I think these people are poorly
trained. Is it part of the training of NDLEA operatives to let a suspect
drown? Even when he could have been rescued? Ok. Sorry. NDLEA is not
aware of the drowning,” he added.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor, had yet to respond to a text message sent to him.
Source: Punch News
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