Osun: NBA, activists seek justice for slain officer killed by DSS operatives

The Nigerian Bar Association(NBA),has written a strong worded letter to the
heads security agents in the country,demanding justice for slain Police
officer ,Corporal Rauf Fawale,35, who was killed on January 23rd, 2021,by
the three men of the State Security Service(SSS) attached to Osun State
office.

Also, a human rights activist and Executive Chairman, Centre for Human
Rights and Social Justice(CHRSJ) , Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, vowed to
ensure justice for slain Police officer, saying that an injury to any
Nigerian is an injury to all of us.calling on the authority of the
Directorate of the State Security(DSS) to fish out the alleged three(3)
operatives for diligent and thorough investigation and subsequent possible
prosecution.

It would be recalled that Rauf, father of three, attached to Dada Estate
Police station, Osogbo, died in the hospital on 23rd of January,2021, as a
result of being beaten to stupor by three men of DSS led by one David
Olowoporoku on January 14,2021.

Meanwhile, the family of Late slain Police officer,alleged the State
Commissioner of Police,Mr. Olawale Olokode, of not up and doing by leaving
them with their fate and also alleged Olokode of shedding inspector
Modinat,who had been boasting around the town that she is well connected
and nobody could force her to open up on the identities of two remaining
killers’ DSS Operatives.

It added that Olobu of Ilobu,Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan has been used to
mount unnecessary pressure on the family of Late Cpl. Rauf Fawale by
inviting Pa. Rabiu Fawale, the father of slain police officer, to his
palace at the presence of Inspector Modinat and her husband, persuading the
deceased family to forget seeking justice for the colossal loss that befell
their entire family.

It further alleged that refusal of the family to heed the Olubu’s
request,had subjected the father,mother, sister and wife of Late Cpl. Rauf
Fawale to have been living in fear as they all have been receiving all
manners of threat from unknown persons threatening them to conceal the
matter or prepare to join Late Cpl. Rauf Fawale where he went untimely.

The NBA Osogbo branch,in the Petition Letter dated 30th of March,2021, and
signed by its Secretary of the Human Rights Committee, Barrister Lekan
Alabi,which copies were made available to news on Thursday and the
letter also forwarded to the Inspector General of Police(IGP),
Director General, Directorate of State Security (DSS),Chairman,Police
Service Commission(PSC),Executive Secretary,National Human Rights
Commission(NHRC),Osun State Commissioner of Police(CP),Osun State
Director
of State Security Service(SSS),and other authorities concerned.

Barrister Alabi disclosed that the Late Corporal Rauf Fawale was enlisted
into the Nigeria Police Force sometimes in 2016 and was serving during his
lifetime at Dada Estate Police Station,Osogbo,Osun State,stressing that the
family and friends of late Police officer reported that he attended a
birthday party organised by another officer called Inspector Modinat on
January 14th,2021 at a popular bar in osogbo called ” Riverside
Restaurant/Bar”, adding that late Rauf and Modinat were both serving at
Dada Estate Police Station.

It was also learnt that a fracas ensued between the celebrant (Inspector
Modinat) guests which led to the show of superiority among the men in
uniform who graced the birthday party,alleging that the three(3) operatives
involved in the fracas descended heavily on late Rauf by hitting him from
behind with gun butt and damaged his skull.

According to the NBA;” That having seen what has happened ,the celebrant
held on tight to one of the DSS operatives, Operative David Olowoporoku and
demanded to know why he had smashed Cpl. Rauf, who as at then had already
collapsed on the bare floor as a result of the gun butt attack on him ,but
Inspector Modinat was consoled to take things easy and attend to her
fallen colleague.On the 15th day of January,2021,one Mr. Tunji with another
unknown man,brought and dumped the Late Cpl. Rauf Fawale at the door of his
house in Ilobu and hurriedly left.

“That late Rauf’s wife,Mrs. Bilikis Fawale demanded an explanation from the
two men but they refused to answer any of her questions.Late Rauf could not
move at all all as he was helped to lie down on the bed till the 16th day
of January,2021 when his wife ,Mrs. Bilikis Fawale called for help upon
which one Mrs Hadijat ,one of the siblings to Late Cpl. Rauf Fawale
appeared.

“The duo moved the Late Rauf to Anuolu Hospital ,Ilobu,Osun State for
medical attention but latter on the same day ,Late Cpl. Rauf Fawale was
referred to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital(formerly known as
LAUTECH) ,Osogbo,Osun State for further and better medical treatment at
about 7:30pm on the 16th day of January,2021.

“on the 17th day of January,2021, Late Cpl. Rauf Fawale was again referred
from UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital (formerly known as LAUTECH),Osogbo,Osun
State to a brain specialist Hospital called Esho Spine and Brain Hospital
at Oke-Fia area,Osogbo,where it was observed after the X-ray carried out
on the Late Cpl. Rauf Fawale’s skull that his skull had been badly smashed
and he has just little hope of survival.On the 23rd day of January,2021,the
gallant officer,Late Cpl. Rauf Fawale gave up the ghost ,after the family
had spent all they had and even took loan to meet up with financial
expenses incurred by the 14th January,2021 incident. Late Cpl. Rauf
Fawale’s family and friends lost the grip and became shattered as they lost
their only “Bread winner” into the cold hands of death.”

They therefore urged the appropriate and concern authority to set up a
judicial or administrative panel of inquiry to investigate the perpetrators
of dastard act by bringing all the perpetrators to book because the blood
of Late Cpl. Rauf Fawale is crying for justice in the wilderness.