12th January, 2016
The Nigeria Police Force on Monday offered scholarship to four children of a woman, Comfort Idongesit Udoh, who was murdered by a trigger-happy police officer, Corporal Museliu Aremu, while demanding bribe from the woman’s husband in Lagos, western Nigeria, last year.
The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Owoseni Fatai, who made the presentation on behalf of the Inspector General, Mr. Solomon Arase, said the errant officer has already been dismissed and would face prosecution.
According to Owoseni, the scholarship is available for the children up to the level of education covered by the Police Scholarship Foundation for children of indigent police officers.
“For now, it covers up to secondary school level and the Scholarship Trust Fund is expected to cover higher level education, subsequently,” said.
Leader of Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, wo led activists and lawyers to the Police Command Headquarters in Lagos during the event, said “the gesture is welcome as part of demands made on the Nigeria Police Force to redress the avoidable tragedy.”
She also reminded that other demands are still pending, which include complete health insurance for the husband of the deceased woman, Mr. Godwin Udoh, who also received bullet shots on his shoulder and jaw during the shooting by the errant Corporal.
Aremu was attached to Isheri-Oshun Division in Lagos, when in September last year, he shot at a tricycle driven by Godwin Udoh along Isheri/ Ijegun road, killing hise wife, Idongesit Udoh, on the spot.
Upon receiving the news of the incident, Fatai Owoseni ordered the immediate arrest of members of the team on duty that night.
The team include Sergeant Benson Ahambo, Corporal Augustine Telenundu, Corporal Onu Samuel and Corporal Aremu who pulled the trigger.
Ekpo was returning from church with his wife and four children between the ages of 1 and 12 in the tricycle when Aremu accosted him.
Reports said Ekpo refused to stop to give the policeman bribe, insisting that the passengers were members of his family.
Eye witnesses alleged that the corporal fired some shots into the moving tricycle, thereby forcing it to a halt. The bullet was said to have shattered Mrs Udoh’s skull while her husband was hit in the jaw.
At that moment, Udoh reportedly managed to come down and raised the alarm when he discovered his wife was bleeding profusely and at the point of death. And she never survived it.
On noticing the magnitude of his action, the corporal reportedly alerted his team members and they fled.
But they were later traced to their station and arrested.
Women Arise has been at the forefront of the campaign for justice for the Ekpo family. This has paid off with the scholarship offered the four children of the slain woman by the police authorities.