THE Kwara State Police Command has dismissed three officers involved in the death of Qoyum Abdulyekeen Ishola, a 21-year-old student of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, during a fuel hike protest on September 4, 2024.
The officers – Abiodun Kayode, James Emmanuel, both inspectors, and Oni Philip, a sergeant – were found guilty of corrupt practices, leaving their beat, and unlawful exercise of authority.
The officers were dismissed after an internal disciplinary trial, with their dismissal effective from October 4, 2024, according to a statement by the command spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi on Tuesday, October 15.
The command also promised that they would soon be arraigned in court.
The ICIR reports that this move followed a wave of public outrage and demands for justice from students and deceased family members.
The incident, which was said to have occurred during a student-led protest over the rising cost of fuel, resulted in the death of Qoyum, a National Diploma student of Electrical/Electronics Engineering.
His death sparked widespread anger, leading students to march to the police command headquarters, demanding justice for their slain colleague.
In a statement, the police command extended its condolences to the deceased’s family, affirming its commitment to transparent and a thorough investigation.
“The Kwara State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya psc(+), extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of late Qoyum Abdulyekeen Ishola. We share in their grief and remain committed to providing them with support during this difficult period.
“We urge the public to always exercise patience and trust in the legal process, as we remain dedicated to maintaining law and order within Kwara State. The command appreciates the cooperation of all citizens and assures them that justice has been served,” she wrote.
Following Qoyum’s death, the Kwara State Polytechnic Students’ Union, alongside the National Association of Kwara State Students, engaged in extensive talks with police officials to demand justice.
The unions also vowed to collaborate with the institution’s management and other key stakeholders to ensure that the truth surrounding the student’s death is uncovered.
Also, while reacting to the incident on September 9, the rector of Kwara State Polytechnic, Abdul-Jimoh Muhammed, expressed his grief over the loss and assured the polytechnic community that the institution would leave no stone unturned in seeking accountability.
“The circumstances around the young and promising student’s death are still dicey as there were many unconfirmed stories and narratives around it.
“The school management is committed to ensuring that justice is served as appropriate based on the final reports of the matter,” the rector said.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M