By Olawale Olurotimi
A coalition of civil society organisations on Wednesday addressed journalists in Lagos, renewing public attention on the ongoing police investigation into the murders of two prominent sons of Ajiran community: Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami and Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye.
Speaking at a joint press conference, the President of the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), Comrade Alex Omotehinse, said the briefing was part of the organisation’s mandate to defend human rights and promote justice across Nigeria.
He was joined by Comrade Deji Adebowale of the Centre for Economic and Human Rights Advancement (CEHRA) and Comrade Buna Olaitan Isiak of Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA), underscoring what they described as a unified stance by the human rights community in Lagos State.
A Crisis That Shook Ajiran
The crisis in Ajiran community, located in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, first drew the intervention of civil society groups in April 2023 following petitions alleging widespread land-grabbing and threats to public peace.
According to the coalition, tensions escalated dramatically on April 18, 2023, when Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami, a youth leader in Ojomu community, was gruesomely murdered at MOBA Town, adjacent to Ajiran. CHSR accompanied Salami’s widow to the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in December 2023, submitting petitions to the Inspector General of Police, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Governor of Lagos State, demanding a thorough investigation.
The tragedy deepened on August 26, 2024, when Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye, son of His Royal Highness, Oba Tijani Akinloye of Ajiran Land, was assassinated in broad daylight along Chevron Drive in Lekki.
The killings triggered widespread fear and anxiety within Ajiran and surrounding communities, with many residents expressing concern that the cases could join the long list of unresolved violent crimes in Nigeria.
Renewed Police Action
In a significant development, the Lagos State Police Command recently announced renewed progress in the investigations.
At a media briefing on February 19, 2026, the Commissioner of Police disclosed that two principal suspects — Safiu Fatai (also known as Fabo) and Yusuf Ismaila (a.k.a. Bariga) — had been apprehended in January and February 2026 respectively. The police also declared additional prime suspects wanted, including Alhaji Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi, citing prima facie evidence linking them to the crimes.
The coalition commended both the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for what they described as renewed commitment and diligence in pursuing justice.
“We consider it a patriotic duty to publicly commend the police authorities for standing firmly in pursuit of justice,” Omotehinse stated. “Our expectation is that these cases will not become part of the many unsolved murders in Nigeria.”
Call for Diligence and Transparency
While expressing encouragement over the arrests and declarations of wanted suspects, the rights groups emphasized the need for thorough and conclusive investigations, followed by diligent prosecution of all those found culpable.
They also revealed that they had formally written to the Commissioner of Police, acknowledging the progress made and urging the command to remain steadfast and uncompromising.
The coalition said the resolution of the two murder cases would significantly restore public confidence in the police as Nigeria’s foremost law enforcement institution.
“We are aware of the deep-seated public concerns and anxieties these murders have elicited,” the statement read. “Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done.”
Security Concerns and Public Assurance
Given the sensitive nature of the investigation and the heightened tension within Ajiran community, the coalition urged the police to deploy adequate security and intensify vigilance in and around the area to reassure residents while investigations continue.
They also cautioned against what they described as distractions, denials, and dubious narratives aimed at undermining the investigative process.
Addressing members of the press directly, the coalition called on journalists to remain vigilant, demand factual clarifications from the police, and continue advocating for truth, justice, and accountability for the slain men and their families.
A Collective Responsibility
The civil society leaders concluded by stressing that ensuring justice in the Ajiran murders is a collective responsibility.
“As watchdogs of society, we must ensure that the police authorities remain unwavering and undeterred in doing the right thing,” they said.
For the grieving families of Sheriff Ishola Salami and Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye — and for a community shaken by violence — the hope remains that the truth will prevail and that justice, long awaited, will finally be served.
