They Killed My Son Because Of The Promotion - Family Of Slain Osun Police Officer Seeks For Justice

By: Bright Olorungbotemi

A 35-year-old police officer, Rauf Fawale has reportedly died following the severe head injury inflicted on him by some DSS operatives in Osun State.

The deceased who was beaten by three men of the Directorate of Security Service (DSS) on the 14th of January, 2021 was rushed to the hospital for treatment where he died on January 23, 2021.

VAM News gathered that the late officer attached to Dada Estate Police Station had just been promoted from the position of a Constable to Corporal before the incident occurred.

Family members of the deceased were seen gathered at the entrance of the State Police Headquarters in Osogbo expressing displeasure over the loss of their loved one, seeking justice.

Rabiu Fawale, father of the deceased who was in tears said the incident was a shock to him as his son is a humble and easy going person.

Father

"A message narrating the incident was sent to me at Mokore Farm settlement where I reside and work as a farmer. I hurriedly left the farm settlement for Osogbo and went straight to UNIOSUN teaching hospital where he had been admitted.

"My son was a very humble and easy going person. I was told that some DSS officials led by a certain David Olowoporoku attacked and hit him on the head with planks at the birthday party of his boss. My son was definitely killed because of the promotion he just received. They killed my son because of promotion," he stated.

The deceased wife, Balikis Fawale who had in her hands a month old baby narrated that her late husband left home for work on thursday morning "but was surprisingly brought home on Friday by one Tunji, he was unable to walk on his own. Tunji did not explain to me if anything had happened to my husband, he only advised him to get enough rest.

Wife

"I called his sister the following morning when I noticed that his condition was getting out of hand. That's how we took him from one hospital to the other before he finally gave up the ghost on Saturday after receiving treatment for a week," she narrated.

The sister of the deceased, Rafiu Adijat explained, "getting there, I met him lying helplessly on the bed, I greeted him but he was not responding. He couldn't talk. I examined his body but there was no noticeable injury or mark. The only thing I discovered was a little mark at the back of his head a clot of blood inside his ear.

"He was treated there some hours before we were referred to UNIOSUN teaching hospital. It was there that his head was scanned and Doctors discovered that he had sustained fatal internal injuries. The doctors advised us to take him to UCH Ibadan, but considering his condition and time constraint, we took him to a specialist hospital where surgery was performed on the head and he was being treated before he gave up the ghost a week after."

"We demand justice for my dead brother. He's the bread winner and glory of our family and we don't want him to die in vain. David Olowoporoku is the alleged killer of our brother. We want Osun state government and the Nigeria Police force to come to our aid and bring David Olowoporoku to book," she said.

Osun State Police Command has however averred that all hands are on deck to bring the culprits to book, expressing the displeasure over the incident.

Police react

Addressing journalists at the State Command headquarters at Osogbo, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Yemisi Opalola stated that one of the DSS men has been identified as David Olowoporoku, left with two unknown others.

"After we received the report of the severe beating, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode interfaced the director of DSS and he promised to produce the three culprits.

"The DSS Director said on their part, they have begun their disciplinary proceedings but the CP insisted that they should be brought to the Police since the case involved the police for discrete investigation and for further prosecution.

"The case is still on, we assure the press that the right action will take place because no criminal will go unpunished.

It has to be done the way it ought to be done to serve as warning for other people in future. Whether you are a member of the force or in power, such shouldn't be done to anyone. These culprits will be brought to book."

Opalola appealed to security agencies to act as one, "we should see other sister security agencies as one family working towards the same goal. There should be no rivalry among us as we are working to make sure there is adequate security in the country, in the state, in our environment.

"If there is any disagreement, or issue between us, we should channel the matter to the appropriate quarters for amicable resolution or settlement. We should not take laws into our hands. After all, we are all working for adequate security to be achieved in the Command and country at large.

"On behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Police Command and the entire Police of the state Command, we want to commiserate with the family of the deceased on the demise of their son and we pray that God will give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. He is our brother and our colleague," She concluded.