By Olanrewaju Adesanya
Three Civil society groups; the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), Centre for Economic and Human Rights Advancement (CEHRA) and Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA),have jointly extolled the Lagos State Police Command for embarking on thorough investigation of some lingering murder cases in Eti Osa Local Government area of the state.
CHSR President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, CEHRA Coordinator, Comrade Deji Adebowale and HURMA Executive Director, Comrade Buna Olaitan Isiak stated the murder cases started from April 2023 in Ojomu Community and Ajiran land in the Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Comrade Alex Omotehinse, said that their interventions in the crisis in Ajiran community began when they received a number of petitions from victims of land grabbing activities, which he said was also followed up with complaints from the royal family of Ajiran and the palace of His Royal Highness, Oba Akinloye Tijani Sateru II of Ajiran Land.
“You will also recall we drew the attention of the media to the case of gruesome murder of a leader of the youth in Ojomu community, Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at Moba Town adjacent Ajiran.
“CHSR, accompanied by the widow of Mr. Sheriff Salami, proceeded to the Lagos State Police Command on December 8, 2023 to demand thorough investigation into the killing of Mr. Sheriff Salami through petitions to the Inspector General of Police, the Lagos State Police Commissioner, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Governor of Lagos State.
“However, on Monday August 26, 2024, Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye, the son of His Royal Highness, Oba Tijani Akinloye was also gruesomely assassinated in broad day on the ever busy Chevron Drive along the Lekki axis of Lagos State.
“Recently however, renewed investigation into the two separate murder cases by the Lagos State Police Command has led to the arrests of some suspects whose confessional statements, according to the Lagos State Police Commissioner while briefing journalists at the command headquarters on Thursday, February 19, 2026, also led to the declaration of some of the prime suspects wanted in connection with the murders,” he said.
Comrade Omotehinse stated that they “are deeply encouraged by the progress made so far by the Lagos State Police Command with the apprehension of suspects and the determination to press ahead with the investigation into the murder cases with the declaration of other prime suspects and their co-collaborators wanted.”
He stated that they therefore consider it a patriotic duty to publicly commend the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and his men of the Lagos State Police Command for standing firmly in pursuit of the cause of justice.
“We also commend the outgone Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for according this case the desired attention in the interest of justice.
“We are indeed pleased by the commitment of the men of the Lagos State Police Command under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Moshood Jimoh to resolving the murders of the two sons of Ajiran community, it should be cheering if these incident of murder do not pass across as one of the many unsolved murder cases in Nigeria, our expectation is that these cases will be resolved with justice done,” he said.
He added that some suspects were arrested by the police on January 24, 2026 and February 6, 2026 following renewed investigations as the Lagos State Police Commissioner has also declared wanted some prime suspects following prima facie evidence.
He said; “Following the arrests of some of the suspects and public disclosure by the Lagos State Police Commissioner, we have formally written to acknowledge the commitment of the police authorities to unearthing the murder of Sheriff Ishola Salami and Prince Ademola Akinloye.
“We have also craved the indulgence of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to make some assertions with respect to the ongoing investigations as follows:
“We have reminded the police authority of the importance of diligent and conclusive investigation as well as the prosecution of those found culpable in the gruesome murders of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 and Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye on Monday, August 26, 2024.
“Following the progress made so far on the investigation into the murders, it became pertinent for us to intimate the Lagos State Police Commissioner of the deep-seated public concerns and anxieties which the murders of the two indigenes of Ajiran community have elicited.”
The groups then implored the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and his team in the “Lagos State Police Command to remain unrelenting and uncompromising in ensuring that the murder cases are resolved with the culprits made to face the wrath of the law of the land.”
Omotehinse stated that they are convinced that the resolution of the murder cases will go a long way to further entrench public confidence in the police as the foremost law enforcement institution in Nigeria.
“We are encouraged that the Lagos State Police Command has made some arrests and also declared wanted principal suspects and potential co-conspirators in the murder incidents.
“We are aware that the public therefore anticipate a thorough and conclusive investigation to unearth the circumstances surrounding the incidents so as to again reassured Lagosians and indeed Nigerians of their safety and to serve as deterrent to people with similar criminal intents.
“We are convinced that resolution of these murder cases are in the overriding interest of the public.
“We therefore remain hopeful that the truth will prevail and that the cause of justice will, at the end, be served, in the overriding interest of public good,” he said.
He stressed that in view of the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation and the anxieties already elicited in the public, they have implored the Lagos State Police Commissioner to deploy adequate security as well as to prioritise vigilance within and around Ajiran community so as to reassure the residents and stakeholders of their safety while the investigation into the murder incidents continues.
