Three former police officers have been charged to court in connection with the killing of a student from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. The Kwara State Police Command confirmed on Friday that the officers, identified as Abiodun Kayode, James Emmanuel, and Oni Philip, have been dismissed and now face charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
According to a statement from the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the legal action against the dismissed officers began on October 16, 2024. “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to inform the public that the three dismissed officers, Mr. Abiodun Kayode, Mr. James Emmanuel, and Mr. Oni Philip, have been charged to court,” Ejire-Adeyemi said. She added, “They face charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide in connection with the death of Qoyum Abdulyekeen Ishola. They have been remanded in prison custody pending further court proceedings.”
The incident that led to the charges occurred on September 4, 2024, when Qoyum Abdulyekeen Ishola, a 21-year-old ND II student from the Department of Electrical Electronics at Kwara State Polytechnic, was allegedly killed by the police during a stop-and-search operation in the Fate area of Ilorin. The death of Ishola sparked public outrage, leading to calls for justice and accountability from various quarters, including the students of the polytechnic.
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In the aftermath of the incident, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Victor Olaiya, pledged to ensure that the officers responsible would face justice. Olaiya, through a statement released by Ejire-Adeyemi on Monday night, affirmed the commitment of the police authorities to hold the officers accountable, stating that the three officers had been dismissed following an internal investigation.
The Student Union Government (SUG) of Kwara State Polytechnic played a key role in pushing for justice, organizing protests at the state police command headquarters and the Government House in Ilorin. They demanded a thorough investigation into Ishola’s death and transparency from the Nigeria Police Force. “We want an open investigation to ensure that those responsible for our colleague’s death are held accountable,” said a representative from the SUG during the protests.
The case against the three officers is now set to proceed in court, where the former policemen will answer to the charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide. The police command’s decision to bring the case to court is seen as a significant step towards addressing the concerns of the grieving family and the community.