Bolanle Raheem: Nigerians Angry over Police Killing, Demand Mental Health Check
Nigerians continue to be angry over the killing of 41-year old Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, Lawyer, by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi on Christmas day in Lagos.
They are demanding that the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, immediately order all policemen in the country to undergo psychology check to determine the mental health status of the men particularly those who daily interface with the public while carrying firearms.
Journalists under the aegis, Network of Reproductive Health Journalists in a statement condemned the gruesome killing of the pregnant Lawyer in the presence of her family saying, “enough is enough”.
The statement comes just as the minister of women Affairs, Dame Pauline K. Tallen described the murder as ” a dastardly act”.
Tallen in her statement wrote, “we are still in shock and strongly condemn this dastardly act.
“We view it as a crime against humanity in all its ramifications. “Nigerian women demand justice as a crime against one woman is a crime against all”.
Reproductive Health Journalists in the statement signed by President and Nationally Secretary respectively, Mrs. Yinka Shokunbi and Alhaja Sekinah Lawal noted, “It is disheartening and very unwarranted the gruesome killing of the innocent Lawyer and mother of one, Mrs. Bolanle Raheem by a Policeman at Ajah, Lagos State on Christmas Day, Sunday Dec. 25, 2022”.
“We are demanding that the Inspector General of Police, immediately order and make it mandatory that all policemen undergo regular psychology test to determine their mental health fitness especially as the elections get closer.
” Rather than save the life of the woman, after the shooting, the policemen who were with Vandi tried to run away and this is usually what Nigeria policemen do in such cases “, the Journalists wrote.
Nigerian women under the aegis of Womanifesto also wrote: “We are appalled by the unjust murder and we call on the Lagos State government and the Nigeria Police to immediately prosecute Assistant Superintendent, Drambi Vandi.
“We call for speedy, thorough, transparent and open investigation. This is death too many by reckless police officers”, the statement signed by Mrs. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi on behalf of the women groups read in part.
Dame Tallen asked: “How do we explain how an ASP attached to Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah, Lagos State pulled a trigger at a vehicle with women and children resulting in the death of Omobolanle Raheem”?
The NRHJN also noted that the killing of Omobolanle by policemen from Ajiwe police station is the second within the month of December after a report of the killing of one Gafaru Buraimoh on December 7.
Nigerian women condemned the attitude of Nigeria Police at “the quick use of firearms and force unlawfully” saying, “unlawful use of force is a threat to life, liberty, security and equal protection under the law”.
The women pointed out, ” the killing of Omobolanle is unnecessary and preventable. Nigeria Police Force must show accountability for this death and several others.
“ASP Drambi Vandi’s criminal actions have violated Omobolanle’s right to life, personal dignity and freedom. He has deprived her family the enjoyment of family life through the merciless killing,” the Womanifesto groups observed.
Members of the network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria are insisting that Nigeria Police do more than sending the evil men behind the bars but for the IGP to immediately begin the conduct of regular and periodic psychological checks within its rank and file.
“This is important because psychological tests are essential in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions and disorders” the network advised.
“We members of the network cannot understand why a policeman would pull the trigger if mentally stable and balanced.
“The incessant killings of innocent men and women and youths by the disbanded State Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) was what was responsible for the 2020 anti-SARS protest in the country in which several young people were killed and the nation is yet to heal from the aftermath that is seeing thousands of young people fleeing the country in the “japa” syndrome.
“The country is still counting its numerous loses following the mass exodus of young professionals due to hardship and unwarranted killings by the policemen”.
The Journalists expressed concern that policemen positioned to interface with women, children and general public are often not in the best of their minds judging by the recent unwarranted killings which the men have caused.