Preamble
The Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) is a service oriented non-governmental organization (NGO) registered as a corporate body to defend, sustain and promote the fundamental human and socio-economic rights of citizens and residents in any part of Nigeria as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
CHSR collaborates with other organizations committed to an ideal Nigerian society founded on participatory democracy, equity, fairness and rule of law.
We has worked with state and non-state actors, institutions and stakeholders in communities and neighbourhoods towards ensuring fairness, equity, justice and harmony with the view to curtailing threats to public peace and violent incidences.
This press briefing is in furtherance of the mandate of CHSR and the overriding objectives of civil society stakeholders in the quest to defend victims of abuse of human rights and to promote the cause of justice and peaceful coexistence in the society.
Gentlemen and ladies of the Press,
You will recall that civil society stakeholders led by the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) addressed you on several occasions beginning from April 2023 with regards to the situation in OJOMU COMMUNITY, AJIRAN LAND in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Our interventions in the crisis in Ajiran community began when we received a number of petitions from victims of landgrabbing activities which was also followed up with complaints from the royal family of Ajiran and the palace of His Royal Highness, Oba Akinloye Tijani Sateru II of Ajiran Land.
You will also recall we drew the attention of the media to the case of gruesome murder of a leader of the youth in Ojomu community, Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at MOBA town adjacent AJIRAN.
CHSR Accompanied by the widow of Mr. Sheriff Salami, we proceeded to the Lagos State Police Command on December 8, 2023 to demand thorough investigation into the killing of Mr. Sheriff Salami through petitions to the Inspector General of Police, the Lagos State Police Commissioner, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Governor of Lagos State.
However on Monday, August 26, 2024, Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye, the son of His Royal Highness, Oba Tijani Akinloye was also gruesomely assassinated in broad day on the ever busy Cheveron Drive along the Lekki axis of Lagos State.
Recently however, renewed investigation into the two separate murder cases by the Lagos State Police Command has led to the arrests of some suspects whose confessional statements, according to the Lagos State Police Commissioner while briefing journalists at the command headquarters on Thursday, February 19 2026, also led to the declaration of some of the prime suspects wanted in connection with the murders.
This press briefing by coalition of human rights organisations is therefore in furtherance of the commitment of the human rights community to the overriding objectives of defending victims of abuse of human rights and to promote the cause of justice and, by so doing, foster peaceful coexistence in the society.
While we are deeply encouraged by the progress made so far by the Lagos State Police Command with the apprehension of suspects and the determination to press ahead with the investigation into the murder cases with the declaration of other prime suspects and their co-collaborators wanted.
We therefore consider it a patriotic duty to publicly commend the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and his men of the Lagos State Police Command for standing firmly in pursuit of the cause of justice. We also commend the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM for according this case the desired attention in the interest of justice.
We are indeed pleased by the commitment of the men of the Lagos State Police Command under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Moshood Jimoh to resolving the murders of the two sons of Ajiran community, it should be cheering if these incident of murder do not pass across as one the many unsolved murder cases in Nigeria, our expectation is that these cases will be resolved with justice done!
According to the Lagos State Police Commissioner, the principal suspects, Safiu Fatai a.k.a. Fabo (40) and Yusuf Ismaila a.k.a. Bariga, were apprehended on January 24, 2026, and February 6, 2026, following renewed investigations as the Lagos State Police Commissioner has also declared wanted some prime suspects including Alhaji Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi following prima facie evidence.
Following the arrests of some of the suspects and public disclosure by the Lagos State Police Commissioner, we have formally written to acknowledge the commitment of the police authorities to unearthing the murder of Sheriff Ishola Salami and Prince Ademola Akinloye.
We have also craved the indulgence of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to make some assertions with respect to the ongoing investigations as follows:
We have reminded the police authority of the importance of diligent and conclusive investigation as well as the prosecution of those found culpable in the gruesome murders of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 and Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye on Monday, August 26, 2024.
Following the progress made so far on the investigation into the murders, it became pertinent for us to intimate the Lagos State Police Commissioner of the deep-seated public concerns and anxieties which the murders of the two indigenes of Ajiran community have elicited.
We implored the Lagos State Commissioner of police and his team in the Lagos State Police Command to remain unrelenting and uncompromising in ensuring that the murder cases are resolved with the culprits made to face the wrath of the law of the land.
We are convinced that the resolution of the murder cases will go a long way to further entrench public confidence in the police as the foremost law enforcement institution in Nigeria.
We are encouraged that the Lagos State Police Command has made some arrests and also declared wanted principal suspects and potential co-conspirators in the murder incidents.
We are aware that the public therefore anticipate a thorough and conclusive investigation to unearth the circumstances surrounding the incidents so as to again reassured Lagosians and indeed Nigerians of their safety and to serve as deterrent to people with similar criminal intents.
We are convinced that resolution of these murder cases are in the overriding interest of the public.
We therefore remain hopeful that the truth will prevail and that the cause of justice will, at the end, be served, in the overriding interest of public good.
In view of the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation and the anxieties already elicited in the public, we have implored the Lagos State Police Commissioner to deploy adequate security as well as to prioritise vigilance within and around Ajiran community so as to reassure the residents and stakeholders of their safety while the investigation into the murder incidents continues.
Gentlemen and ladies of the press, we appreciate the support you have so far demonstrated since we began the advocacy in defence of the rights of victims of landgrabbing in Ajiran community.
We are therefore confident that you would not be misled by distractions, denials and dubious narratives within and outside Ajiran community which are designed to cast unwarranted insinuations and aspersions on the bold steps already taken by the Lagos State Police Command to fish out the culprits.
We urge the media to follow through and demand clarifications from police which remains the legitimate authorities with regards to investigations of criminal cases.
More importantly, we urge you journalists to demand the truth, diligence investigation, prosecution and justice for the deceased; Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami and Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye and their families.
Please be reminded that it is our collective responsibility as watchdog of the society to ensure that the police authorities remain unwavering and undeterred in doing the right thing in the interest of justice.
We must ensure that the police remain committed to the expectation of the public in seeing that justice is done with respect of these cases of murder.
Our sincere regards to you for your partnership!
For and on behalf of the human rights community in Lagos State.
Comrade Alex Omotehinse
President
Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR)
Comrade Deji Adebowale
National Coordinator,
Centre for Economic and Human Rights Advancement (CEHRA)
Comrade Buna Olaitan Isiak
Executive Director
Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA)
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