#EndSARS: 5 years after, activist demands justice

By Suliyat Quadri

Five years after the #EndSARS protest, a rights activist, Dandy Eze, has raised concerns that two policemen murdered by protesters are yet to get justice.

Eze, who is the national president of Paths of Peace Initiatives, wants justice for the policemen so that their spirits would rest in peace and their loved ones find closure.

In a statement yesterday, Eze said, “Five years ago, our nation was shaken to its core by the #EndSARS protests, a movement born from pain, but one that spiralled into chaos.

“As we mark the fifth anniversary of that dark chapter, we remember not only the voices that cried for justice, but also the lives that were brutally silenced in its wake.

“Among the most horrific tragedies of that period was the gruesome murder of two police officers, Sergeant Adegoke Ajibola and Corporal Rotimi Oladele, who were deployed to restore peace in Oyo State. On October 8, 2020, these officers were ambushed, killed, set ablaze, and, unthinkably, cannibalised by a mob. Viral footage captured the unimaginable: individuals hacking at their charred remains, some placing flesh into containers as if collecting party leftovers.

“It was not just a crime; it was a desecration of humanity. I therefore, call on the Oyo State Ministry of Justice to break the silence and act.

“These men were fathers, brothers, protectors. They died in service of a nation that now owes them justice. Their families have waited in anguish, while the case has languished in uncertainty. Arrests were made, suspects were arraigned, and yet, five years later, there has been no trial, no closure, and reports suggest some suspects have even been released.”

We cannot allow this atrocity to fade into obscurity. Justice delayed is justice denied, not only for Sgt. Ajibola and Cpl. Oladele, but for every citizen who believes in the rule of law.

“ The footage, the testimonies, and the investigations all point to a crime that demands resolution.we urge the Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, and all relevant authorities to prioritise this case. Let the courts speak. Let the truth be heard. Let the families of these fallen officers find peace.

We call on all Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, especially those in Oyo State, to wade into the matter and ensure that the deceased officers are allowed to rest in peace.

Let us remember: justice is not just a legal obligation, it is a moral one.”