*Sanwo-Olu greeting the mother of the deceased*
Lagos State Governor-elect Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has condemned every form of extra judicial killings in the country, saying that they can be likened to acts of murder.
Sanwo-Olu made the statement on Saturday afternoon when he visited the family home of the late Kolade Johnson who was killed by men of the Anti-cultism unit of the Lagos Police Command.
The Governor-elect, who prayed for the repose of the deceased described the circumstances leading to the demise of the young Johnson as unfortunate, callous and condemnable.
*Sanwo-Olu with the father of the late Kolade*
‘’I think this incident is a wake up call to all that there is need for the police hierarchy to take a second look at the operations of their rank and file. A situation where men and officers of the police and indeed any security organization will willfully cut down the lives of our youths is unacceptable. We should all speak against it. We must all rise against it. The police should realize that they are there to protect the citizens and not to send them to heaven under any guise.’’ Sanwo-Olu said.
Speaking further, he urged Lagosians to be steadfast in their quest for what is just in the society, pledging that his administration when it comes on stream will work in harmony with the security operatives to ensure that this kind of incident becomes a thing of the past.
‘’I know that the 21st century policing should thrive more on intelligence gathering, tactical operations, which will bring about clinical execution of assignment. With this in mind, our security operatives should adopt modern techniques in fighting crimes so as to reduce incidents of avoidable deaths especially of innocent youths’’. Sanwo-Olu stated.
According to the Governor-elect, ‘’it is gratifying to note that the police authority acted promptly. We read in the news that they have dismissed the officer who allegedly fired the shot that killed Mr. Johnson. This shows to us that we are not living in banana republic. We live in a society where justice and equity should be the order of the day.’’
Responding on behalf of the family, late Johnson’s father, Alhaji Oluremi Lookmon who expressed surprise at the visit of Mr. Sanwo-Olu described it as soothing balm, which the family needs at a trying time like this.
Alhaji lookmon said although the death of Kolade Johnson was painful to his family and friends, it will serve as an eye opener for the country on the need to reorganize how the nation’s security operatives, especially the police operate.
Lookmon appealed to the Governor-elect to pay special attention to the security of lives of the citizens when he eventually assumes office.
A representative of the youths and friends of late Kolade Johnson, Mr. Jackson Ugbada thanked the Governor-elect for deeming it necessary to visit inspite of the fact that he was yet to be inaugurated as Governor.
Sanwo-Olu joined members of the late Johnson’s family to offer prayers for the soul of the departed.