#ENDSARS: Osun State Panel Of Inquiry Begins Sitting

*‘How My Son Was Murdered In Cold Blood For Money’

As the Osun State panel of inquiry set up to investigate Police
brutality and extra-judicial killings in the state commenced its
sitting Thursday, a victim’s father Rasheed Ayinla alleged that his
son, Ismaila was killed in cold blood by the disbanded SARS
personnel to steal his money.

Ayinla’s in his petition before the panel disclosed that his son
was killed by two personnel of the disbanded police unit,
identified as ‘Odua’ and ‘Are’ at Ile-Labo Sinmi Oko guest house in
Iwo, on July 18, 2020 after lodging at the guest house the previous
day.

He said the deceased who resides in Ore, Ondo State was
traveling to northern part of the country to buy Rams which was to
resold for Sallah celebration and checked into the guest house to
pass the night with the intention to move on the following
morning.

According to the father, Ismail, a father of five was shot early
hours of the morning, as the SARS personnel claimed he was an armed
robber who invaded the hotel at night but only N997,730.00 was
found on him out of the N4million with him before he was
killed.

“The deceased, Ismaila Rasheed, left Ore, Ondo State, on 17th
day of July, 2020, on a mission to buy rams for Eid Fitri
Celebrations. He landed in Iwo on 17th day of July, 2020, at about
9:30 p.m. with the intention of passing night in a hotel till the
following day when he would embark on a journey to the northern
part of Nigeria to buy rams in large quantity for his
customers.

“He headed straight to Ile Labo Sinmi Oko Guest House at about
9:30 pm where he lodged until the unfortunate incident took place
at about 2a.m. on the following day. At the Guest House was the
staff in persons of the Manager, Afeez Tella Adio and other
attendants – Afeez, Ayisat and Yinka.

“In order to beef up security along Iwo/Ibadan Expressway. Two
Police Officers, from Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) had been
accommodated in the Guest House by the owner, Alhaji Ayo Dauda
Adigun, on the consent of the Divisional Police Officer, DPO. The
two officers, “Odua” and “Are” had stayed in the Guest House for
about seven months free of charge.

“Late Ismaila Rasheed was given Room in the Guesthouse by the
Manager, Afeez Adio. The deceased enjoyed with the guests
particularly the football fans that came to watch the match between
Arsenal and Liverpool on that day.

At about 3:30 A.M., one of the officers of the SARS in the Guest
House, called the Manager, Afeez Tella Adio, that they had shot
dead one of the thieves that invaded the Guesthouse.

The Manager. Afeez Tella Adio, rushed to the Guest House and
found Ismaila Rasheed in his pool of blood. The Manager said, the
last word from the deceased was (Omo Ole, o ti pa mi) “Thieves, you
have killed me”.

“At about 6:20am on 18/7/2020, the Manager ran to the house of
the owner of the Guest House, at No. 131. Adegbodu’s Compound,
Gidigbo Quarters, Iwo, to inform him of the development. Alhaji Ayo
Dauda Adigun, the owner of the Guest House, ran there and found the
D.P.O and other officers of the Nigeria Police had been there
before him.

“The duo of the SARS officers in the Guest House, shot dead the
deceased, Ismaila Rasheed, in his cold blood on 18/7/2020 and
carted away a sum of Four Million Naira (N4,000,000.00) meant for
the purchase of rams as one Isiaka, the deceased friend, whom the
deceased called last about 2:30am on 18/7/2020, made bold to say
that his deceased friend, had on him a sum of over Five Million
Naira for the purchase of the rams.

The deceased body was taken to the mortuary at the General
Hospital, Iwo, by the Police and he was eventually buried on
20/7/2020 at Obatedo Cemetery, Iwo, amid tears from the
sympathizers”, reads the petition

Similarly, a joint signatory to the petition, Adio Dauda, the
owner of the hotel, also said his business had suffered great loss
due to the action of the SARS personnel, adding that since the
incident, customers have abandoned the guest house.

He sought the relief of the committee to make available for his
business, which has suffered, the sum of N6million while the
deceased father sought the return of the stolen N4million from the
deceased and additional N100million as damages to take care of his
two wives and five children.

However, the Chairman of the Panel, retired Justice Akin
Oladimeji, urged the petitioners to make a proper breakdown of the
damages sought from government to justify their losses.

He also urged victims to come out and tell their stories, saying
the panel would not compromise its integrity and would ensure they
get justice.

*‘How My Son Was Murdered In Cold Blood For Money’

As the Osun State panel of inquiry set up to investigate Police
brutality and extra-judicial killings in the state commenced its
sitting Thursday, a victim’s father Rasheed Ayinla alleged that his
son, Ismaila was killed in cold blood by the disbanded SARS
personnel to steal his money.

Ayinla’s in his petition before the panel disclosed that his son
was killed by two personnel of the disbanded police unit,
identified as ‘Odua’ and ‘Are’ at Ile-Labo Sinmi Oko guest house in
Iwo, on July 18, 2020 after lodging at the guest house the previous
day.

He said the deceased who resides in Ore, Ondo State was
traveling to northern part of the country to buy Rams which was to
resold for Sallah celebration and checked into the guest house to
pass the night with the intention to move on the following
morning.

According to the father, Ismail, a father of five was shot early
hours of the morning, as the SARS personnel claimed he was an armed
robber who invaded the hotel at night but only N997,730.00 was
found on him out of the N4million with him before he was
killed.

“The deceased, Ismaila Rasheed, left Ore, Ondo State, on 17th
day of July, 2020, on a mission to buy rams for Eid Fitri
Celebrations. He landed in Iwo on 17th day of July, 2020, at about
9:30 p.m. with the intention of passing night in a hotel till the
following day when he would embark on a journey to the northern
part of Nigeria to buy rams in large quantity for his
customers.

“He headed straight to Ile Labo Sinmi Oko Guest House at about
9:30 pm where he lodged until the unfortunate incident took place
at about 2a.m. on the following day. At the Guest House was the
staff in persons of the Manager, Afeez Tella Adio and other
attendants – Afeez, Ayisat and Yinka.

“In order to beef up security along Iwo/Ibadan Expressway. Two
Police Officers, from Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) had been
accommodated in the Guest House by the owner, Alhaji Ayo Dauda
Adigun, on the consent of the Divisional Police Officer, DPO. The
two officers, “Odua” and “Are” had stayed in the Guest House for
about seven months free of charge.

“Late Ismaila Rasheed was given Room in the Guesthouse by the
Manager, Afeez Adio. The deceased enjoyed with the guests
particularly the football fans that came to watch the match between
Arsenal and Liverpool on that day.

At about 3:30 A.M., one of the officers of the SARS in the Guest
House, called the Manager, Afeez Tella Adio, that they had shot
dead one of the thieves that invaded the Guesthouse.

The Manager. Afeez Tella Adio, rushed to the Guest House and
found Ismaila Rasheed in his pool of blood. The Manager said, the
last word from the deceased was (Omo Ole, o ti pa mi) “Thieves, you
have killed me”.

“At about 6:20am on 18/7/2020, the Manager ran to the house of
the owner of the Guest House, at No. 131. Adegbodu’s Compound,
Gidigbo Quarters, Iwo, to inform him of the development. Alhaji Ayo
Dauda Adigun, the owner of the Guest House, ran there and found the
D.P.O and other officers of the Nigeria Police had been there
before him.

“The duo of the SARS officers in the Guest House, shot dead the
deceased, Ismaila Rasheed, in his cold blood on 18/7/2020 and
carted away a sum of Four Million Naira (N4,000,000.00) meant for
the purchase of rams as one Isiaka, the deceased friend, whom the
deceased called last about 2:30am on 18/7/2020, made bold to say
that his deceased friend, had on him a sum of over Five Million
Naira for the purchase of the rams.

The deceased body was taken to the mortuary at the General
Hospital, Iwo, by the Police and he was eventually buried on
20/7/2020 at Obatedo Cemetery, Iwo, amid tears from the
sympathizers”, reads the petition

Similarly, a joint signatory to the petition, Adio Dauda, the
owner of the hotel, also said his business had suffered great loss
due to the action of the SARS personnel, adding that since the
incident, customers have abandoned the guest house.

He sought the relief of the committee to make available for his
business, which has suffered, the sum of N6million while the
deceased father sought the return of the stolen N4million from the
deceased and additional N100million as damages to take care of his
two wives and five children.

However, the Chairman of the Panel, retired Justice Akin
Oladimeji, urged the petitioners to make a proper breakdown of the
damages sought from government to justify their losses.

He also urged victims to come out and tell their stories, saying
the panel would not compromise its integrity and would ensure they
get justice.