Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered a probe into the death of Tiamiyu Kazeem, a football player allegedly killed by operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Sagamu, Ogun State.
The incident, which occurred on February 22, triggered protests on February 23, leading to the deaths of at least three others.
In a tweet on Monday, Adamu said;
Unfortunate death of Tiamiyu Kazeem in Sagamu, Ogun state: The IGP orders DIG FCID to take over investigations.
UNFORTUNATE DEATH OF TIAMIYU KAZEEM IN SAGAMU, OGUN STATE: IGP ORDERS DIG FCID TO TAKE OVER INVESTIGATIONS
— Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) February 24, 2020
– Calls for Calm
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, on February 24 also called for calm over the situation.
The statement reads;
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has ordered the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), DIG Anthony Ogbizi to, with immediate effect, take over investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of Late Mr. Tiamiyu Kazeem in Sagamu, Ogun State on 22nd February, 2020. The IGP gave the order today, 24th February 2020 while reviewing daily reports of major crime incidents across the country.
Meanwhile, the IGP while commiserating with the family and friends of the deceased, calls for calm and assures that justice will be done in the matter, reiterating that any person found culpable will be brought to book.
The soccer player who was a member of Remo Stars Football Club was said to have been pushed from a SARS van on motion and onto a speeding car, which knocked him down.
This was shortly after SARS operatives allegedly seized him from his car and labelled him an Internet fraudster (Yahoo boy).
Residents of Sagamu, who spoke with SaharaReporters on February 24, said that the entire town remains tensed following the incident.
