How SARS operative ‘killed’ Remo Stars player

Ogun based Remo Stars Football Club have narrated how the Assistant Captain of the club, Tiyamiyu Kazeem popularly known as ‘Kaka’ was killed by a police officer in the state.

The talented defender was reported to have been killed by an officer of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).

In a statement on Saturday, Oladimeji Oshode, Remo Stars media officer, said the incident happened at about noon along Sagamu road.

According to him, the accused officer stopped the vehicle the deceased was driving. Kazeem was said to have been with Sanni Abubakar, his teammate.

The footballer was allegedly pushed out of the vehicle by the SARS operative, who had mistaken him for a suspected internet fraudster (Yahoo boy), before he was hit by an incoming vehicle.

“The SARS officer stopped Tiyamiyu Kazeem insisting that he was a Yahoo Boy, he brought out his identity (ID) card to identify himself as a player of Remo Stars FC but the officer insisted on taking him to the nearest police station in Sagamu.

“Tiyamiyu and Sanni obliged, followed the SARS officers, only for them to notice that they were driving towards Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway, then the guys questioned to know where the SARS officers were taking them to, but this prompted them to stop the car and push him (Tiyamiyu) out of the car, whereby an unknowing vehicle knocked him down.

“He was immediately rushed to Fakoya Hospital in Sagamu, where it was confirmed that Tiyamiyu Kazeem was no more”, the statement read.

Abimbola Oyeyemi, spokesman of the state police command, however, said he was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver, while trying to escape, after he had been arrested.

Oyeyemi also said the deceased was arrested for wearing a military cap and not on the suspicion of being an internet fraudster.

He added that the operative who arrested the deceased was an inspector attached to the Zonal Intervention Squad (ZIS), Obada, and not a SARS operative.

“Somebody gave the policeman information that the deceased usually put on military wears and often oppressed people with it. He saw the boy wearing military cap and he arrested him and took him into his vehicle,” he said.

“On their way to Abeokuta, his vehicle developed mechanical fault. He (policeman) parked and tried to rectify it. In the process, the suspect who was not handcuffed, jumped out of the vehicle and took to his heels.

“While crossing the road, an oncoming vehicle crushed him to death along the expressway. The vehicle did not stop.”

The spokesman, however, stated that the officer had been taken into custody at Owode-Egba division and would be transferred to the police headquarters for further investigation.

“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Police Command, has ordered the immediate arrest of the officer for his unprofessional act of leaving an arrested person alone in the vehicle,” he added.

“A full-scale investigation into the case has commenced by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department.”

Police Commissioner orders arrest of officer who allegedly caused footballer’s death

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State has ordered the immediate arrest of an unidentified police officer who allegedly caused the death of Tiamiyu Kazeem, a young football player who ply his trade with Remo Stars Football club based in the state.

Videos and pictures of how the mob vented their anger on the officers and destroyed some properties of the police have been trending online.

According to a witness account, which was corroborated by Oladimeji Oshode, the media officer of Remo Stars Football club, the incident occurred Saturday afternoon in Sagamu while Kazeem was driving along Sagamu area of Ogun State with one of his teammates, Sanni Abubakar.

Although the Ogun State police spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, denied that the deceased was accused of being an internet fraudster, he admitted the deceased was hit by a moving vehicle after the police vehicle developed a technical fault.

Meanwhile, in an official statement on Sunday, the commissioner of police, Ogun State police command, ordered the immediate arrest of the officer for his unprofessional act of leaving an arrested person alone in the vehicle.

“A full scale investigation into the case has commenced by state criminal investigation and intelligence department,” Mr Oyeyemi stated.

The spokesperson also added that normalcy has been restored as members of the public have been assured of proper investigation of the case.

The officers of the Nigerian Police Force have been accused of being notorious for extra-judicial killings, bribery and other corrupt practices.

On several occasions, officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the force have been caught on camera assaulting members of the public after refusing to give bribes.

The assaults sometimes result in the death of the victim.

In 2018, the federal government ordered an immediate review of the police unit and its activities. Also, the Inspector General of police, Mohammed Adamu, has repeatedly vowed to arrest, investigate and punish any police personnel involved in misuse of weapons.

Notwithstanding, experts as well as human rights campaigners are calling for the total reformation of the Nigerian Police Force.

Gov Abiodun reacts to death of Remo stars player

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has reacted to the death of Remo stars player, Tiamiyu Kazeem aka Kaka, as he called for order in the state and promised to further investigations.

The governor urged the players and supporters of Remo stars football club, residents of Sagamu and indeed the people of Ogun state to remain calm, following the tragic passing of a player of the club.

While expressing shock about the ordeal, the governor assured that a proper, transparent and independent investigation would be immediately launched into the incident to unravel the exact circumstances of the occurrence and bring the persons found guilty to book.

The Governor, who eulogised the late player as a young man with great potentials for the development of the state and the nation in general, strongly stated that his government will never take with levity, the lives, and properties of the good people of Ogun state.

He further stated that the first business of the government was the security and welfare of the citizens of the state.

He added that the case of Kaka would not be an exemption, and he promised that Kaka’s unfortunate case would not be swept under the carpet.

Governor Abiodun, however, called on everyone to maintain peace and calm during the investigations and be confident that anyone found culpable will be brought to book according to the Nigerian law.