End SARS: My 17-year-old niece was hit by police bullet in our canteen – Woman tells panel

A 17-year-old girl, Rachael Abioye was hit by a stray bullet the same day some security personnel allegedly chased a 20-year-old man in the car to death in Osun.

The victim’s aunt, Mrs Abosede Ibikunle told the Osun State Panel of Inquiry set up to investigate police brutality and extra-judicial killings in the state over the weekend, that a uniformed mobile police officer shot Abioye in the arm in front of their canteen.

Mrs Ibikunle narrated that, on September 15, 2020, there was an attack on some boys by the officers of the defunct SARS department of the Nigeria Police Force which led to the death of one of the boys as a result of the hot pursuit on the express road.

Mrs Ibikunle said, in the evening of that same day, she and her niece, together with other workers in the canteen were in the food canteen when suddenly they heard a gun shot coming from Ace Supermarket area which prompted her and other people around including her niece to pack up the things in the canteen in an attempt to close the canteen.

“In the same vein, while I and other people were hurrying up to lock up the food canteen, some unknown men were chasing a Mopol officer carrying a gun towards the food canteen and the Mopol officer ran to the front of the food canteen and fired his gun, same was also witnessed by one Mrs Folasade Alonge who has a shop beside the food canteen.

“Immediately, I heard my niece shouting that she has been hit by the bullet and when I came towards her, she was on the floor hit by the bullet on her left arm and in the pool of her blood.

“We rushed Rachael to the nearest hospital at Emmanuel Medical Centre, Capital Area, Osogbo, Osun State where she was attended to and operated upon by the Medical Doctors available.

“I made a report at Dada Estate Police Station which my statement was taken and the D.P.O referred me to the Osun State Police Command. I was later directed back to the Dada Estate Police Station for investigation.

“I gave the shell of the bullet found in the canteen to the D.P.O, he confirmed the bullet belonged to the gun of the Nigeria Police Force; thereafter, some police officers from the division were sent to visit Rachael in the hospital and they also saw the Medical Doctor, the officers also visited the scene of the crime (the food canteen) and a police report was prepared in respect of same.

“Police promised to get back to me on this matter, but nothing has been heard from them till now. I have spent a lot on her medical bills as several surgeries were carried out on Rachael by two Medical Surgeons at separate times. Rachael was writing her examinations around that period, and she had to go in pains and bandages to the examination hall.

“Rachael is still undergoing medical test every week and still buys recommended drugs to aid the healing process,” she told the panel.

She urged the panel to investigate the matter and ensure that Rachael does not suffer the incident in vain.
Mrs Ibikunle, however, requested that the medical bills expended on Rachael’s treatment be refunded and that adequate compensation be paid to Rachael.