Mrs Janet Anifowoshe, mother of late Adijat Sikiru
IMPACT: Please, do accept our condolences. Can you please tell us how the unfortunate incident that led to the death of your daughter happened?
Late Adijat’s Mother: I heard the gun shot while I was in my shop but I wasn’t bothered since it came from the police and I did not have any issue with them. After that, I went to the backyard to cook while my daughter (late Adijat) was sitting with me. Just about 20minutes after the first shot, I noticed there was a commotion as people were running helter skelter. I saw running people behind me and my daughter told me that it was the policemen that were shooting and I told her that I don’t have any problem with police. I was there with my daughter and my maid. Before Adijat could finished making her statement, I heard a police officer fired another gun and on looking back to where my daughter was, I saw that she was already on the floor and I held onto the officer that shot the gun. With the support of his colleagues, I was overpowered and thrown off him and they immediately started shooting sporadically. The next thing I did was to call on the person close to my shop by shouting “Baba Precious, won ti pa Adijat o!” (Precious daddy, please help me, they have killed Adijat o!). While I was calling on the man and the entire neighbourhood, the police officers started running towards Adamo Petrol station in a bid to escape from the scene.
It was those that came to my rescue that said that we should take her (Adijat) to the hospital but on realizing that she has given up the ghost, we agreed that we should take her to the Imota Police Station since those responsible for the incident were from there.
IMPACT: What happened at Imota Police Station when you took the corpse there?
Late Adijat’s mother: By the time we got to the station, we met huge crowd of people there who had come to sympathise with me and protest the unjust killing of my daughter but the police officers refused to open the gate but by the time I got there, they opened the gate for me and those inside the vehicles conveying the corpse . Suddenly, the police officers started beating those that followed me to the station. While they were beaten them, they dropped my daughter’s corpse at the entrance of the station. Most unfortunate was the action of the Imota DPO who ordered his men to release fire on those that came with me and the protesters and the police officers started shooting at them. I was equally detained at the station. I was only released around 11pm on the order of the Area N Commander on his arrival at the station. The police officers lied that they did not detain me when the Area Commander asked them why I was being detained. They destroyed the two vehicles that accompanied me to the station with gunshots and my neighbor that I called when my daughter was shot who also followed me to the station was shot in his hand with severe damages. The man is still at Igbobi.
IMPACT: What are your expectations from the government and police?
Late Adijat’s mother: I want Nigerians to come to my aid and fight for me because I was subjected to dehumanizing and unfortunate punishment by the police. I did not in any way go against the law, rather, I have been going about my lawful business which is selling of cooked food. I don’t know that those who are meant to protect us could also bring problem to us while going about our lawful businesses . They came and killed my daughter where we were doing our lawful business that fetches us our daily bread. I Want Nigerians to come to my rescue because it’s only me and this girl but now, she has been taken away from me. She always go out with me to the shop everyday at 6.30am and we usually returned by 7pm. I don’t know what the police would say a 17 years old girl has done to them. I labour to train her so that she can be educated because I didn’t have the opportunity of going to school, but now, they have cut my dream shot which is very unfortunate.
IMPACT: Do you think that you will get justice with the intervention of Hon. SOB Agunbiade, NBA Ikorodu branch, Ayangbure of Ikorodu and now, the Lagos Police Command and also with their condolence visit and meeting with you ?
Late Adijat’s Mother: I can see the seriousness and truth in all they have been saying and doing since the incident happened. They are assuring me that I shall get justice for what the police officer did to my daughter.
