…calls for thorough investigation
The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has condemned a police corporal allegedly involved in the killing of a 14-year-old WASSCE candidate who was hit by a stray bullet in Ibadan.
The association also criticised the father of the deceased, Alade, for playing a major role in the events that led to the untimely death of his son.
Its Capoon, Prince Adebowale Adeniji, in a statement described the incident as avoidable had it been the parties involved abide by the professional and traffic rules.
The statement reads, “This is one of the numerous avoidable killings that had been witnessed in Nigeria.
“The incident is saddening, more so, as it involves the killing of an innocent young boy at the prime of his life, whose life was abruptly cut short and whose dreams and aspirations was brought to an end by the rashness of both misfits not worthy of the exemplary status of fatherhood and the other person, which in our opinion, is bereft of the professionality embedded in policing.”
The Association noted that high-handedness and the trigger-happy nature of our so-called security officers is dreadful and must be curbed.
The statement continued, “We seriously believe that the death of that innocent soul killed in that situation was avoidable, if only the government of Nigeria bears in mind the safety of Nigerians when handling over weapons to persons meant to protect the lives and properties of citizens.
“This situation once again underscores the exigencies of examinations of physical fitness and mental alertness in our security officers.
It added that the father of the deceased boy lacks such sterling qualities expected of a father as a high sense of responsibility, sensitivity, patience and being a role-model.
“The video exposing the happenstances that led to the incident revealed that he was driving his child to school.
“What kind of a driver drives against traffic and in a single lane meant for cars moving towards the opposite direction?
“What kind of a father does that while having the children in the car? What kind of leadership in civil obedience is he exuding to the children to imitate?
“That notwithstanding, as an organization committed to justice and the attainment of a just society, we seize this opportunity to condemn the act of whoever initiated that reckless shot which unfortunately led to the death of that innocent child, be it a superior officer or the officer who took the shot himself.
We hope that this will not be one of the manifold cases which were swept under the carpet and ended up in the ash heap of history or unreasonably delayed to fade off within the fleetingness and brevity of time such that justice is eventually denied and evaded.
“We urge all authorities involved to ensure a thorough and speedy investigation of this case, and effect prosecution accordingly”, the association concluded.
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