By Lagos state government has ordered an investigation into the alleged shooting by the police which led to the death of a 14-year-old girl during Saturday’s Yoruba Nation rally in the state.
This was contained in a statement by the attorney general of the state, Moyosore Onigbanjo, on Sunday.
He said the governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has requested a coroner’s inquest, citing sections 14 and 15 of the Coroners’ Systems Law, Laws of Lagos state 2015, to determine the cause and circumstances of death.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to the death of a 14-year-old girl in Ojota during the Oodua Republic Mega Rally on Saturday, 3rd of July, 2021.
“We commiserate with the family of the deceased. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor, has ordered a thorough investigation of the death. A Coroner’s Inquest has immediately been requested in line with sections 14 and 15 of the Coroners’ Systems Law, Laws of Lagos State 2015, to determine the cause and circumstances of death.
“The State assures the public that everything will be done to ensure that the cause of death is known. The findings of this investigation will be made public in due course, and appropriate sanctions meted out to anyone found culpable.
“By Section 14(1) (d) of the Coroners’ System Law of the State: “A report of death shall be made to any of the agencies for the report of death or the office of the Coroner and be subject to post-mortem examination where there is reasonable cause to believe that the cause of death was: violent, unnatural or suspicious.”
“Section 15(1) and (9) further enjoins the Coroner to hold an inquest whenever he or she is informed that the death of the deceased person was in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation or believes an inquest is desirable following the report of a reportable death.”
Recall reports making rounds that a 14 year-old girl was allegedly hit and killed by police bullet at the venue of the Oodua Republic Mega Rally in Ojota, Lagos.
The Lagos State police command, however, in a statement, denied the involvement of its officers in the death of the girl, describing the report as a “calculated attempt to create confusion and fear” in the minds of Lagosians and other Nigerians.
