“Nigeria Police Force trying to shake my family down by charging us exorbitantly to discourage us from getting autopsy for my murdered brother, Olajide Sowore! Shame on Nigeria!”
Human rights’ activist, Omoyele Sowore, says the Nigeria Police Force has made efforts to suppress the family's path to getting justice for the murder of his younger brother, Olajide Sowore, by charging exorbitant autopsy fees.
Sowore disclosed this in a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday.
He wrote, “Nigeria Police Force trying to shake my family down by charging us exorbitantly to discourage us from getting autopsy for my murdered brother, Olajide Sowore! Shame on Nigeria!”
Olajide was murdered in cold blood by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Saturday in the Okada area of Edo State.
Before his death, he was a student of Igbinedion University, Okada, where he was studying Pharmacy.
Since his death, there had been promises from government officials and the police to fish out the perpetrators.
The Edo Police Command through its spokesperson, Bello Kontongs, had promised to fish out the perpetrators as it disclosed efforts to rescue other five kidnapped victims.
Also, the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, assured that his government would collaborate with security agencies to fish out Olajide’s killers.
Earlier in the week, Sowore thanked everyone for their support and solidarity.
He had, however, noted that despite the noise from Nigerian government officials promising to bring the perpetrators to justice, the family was not aware of any investigation by security agencies.
“Thank you all for reaching out with great love and kind words of consolation, support and solidarity over the tragic but still unexplained death of my dearest brother, Felix Olajide Sowore.
“I send you loads of gratitude from the bottom of my heart and that of my entire family.
"We should report to the public that despite the noise from Nigerian govt officials promising to 'apprehend' my brother’s killers, we are not aware any security agency/ies carrying out rescue operations to free those purportedly abducted or investigating the identity of Jide’s murderers.
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"It is not as if we expect anything from the failed system that took our brother’s life, I feel that I owe you all an update on these matters. We will keep the public updated with progress regarding funeral arrangement,” Sowore had said.
Also, the family had announced the link to the virtual attendance option of the burial ceremony of Olajide.
Taking to his Facebook page on Tuesday, Sowore shared the link to a pre-scheduled zoom meeting which will connect well-wishers to the burial ceremony holding at Ondo State on Thursday.
He wrote. “#Justice4JideSowore ZOOM Burial. Time: Sep 9, 2021 10:00 AM Africa/Lagos Join Zoom Meeting. https://us02web.zoom.us. Meeting ID: 853 8278 1388. Passcode: 563964."
The inclusion of a virtual meeting in the burial arrangement comes as the activist himself has not been granted the opportunity to attend the burial.
Sowore is currently under open detention in Abuja, the country's capital following the court order issued by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in 2019.