The family members of a police corporal,
Rasheed Hakeem, have been living in anxiety since May 2015, when the
policeman failed to return home after partaking in an operation to
tackle petroleum pipeline vandals in the Igando area of Lagos.
Our correspondent learnt that 39-year-old
Hakeem, attached to the Inspector General of Police’s Anti-Pipeline
Vandalism team, had been drafted among officers for an operation in
Obadore, Igando, on Thursday, May 14.
It
was gathered that when the families contacted the police authorities at
Kam Salem House, Obalende, they were told that Hakeem was not killed
during the operation, but missing, as no corpse had been recovered by
the police.
PUNCH Metro had reported on
Friday, May 15, that there was confusion in the area after the vandals,
who reportedly numbered about 20, engaged the policemen in a gun battle.
It had also been reported that after the
shootout, two yet-to-be-identified officers were killed, while others
sustained bullet injuries.
According to Hakeem’s family, the police
corporal, who had not returned home since the day of that incident,
could not be said to have died since his corpse was reportedly not found
at the scene.
Speaking with our correspondent, one of
the corporal’s relatives, Bolaji Babatunde, said the family had
approached the police on several occasions, and had been told that
Hakeem was missing, not dead.
He said, “We continue to hear the same
story each time we meet with the police. Rasheed (Hakeem) is my wife’s
elder brother. Each time we go to the police, they say there was
violence and every policeman fled for their lives at the scene.
“The police confirmed to us that there
was an exchange of gunfire, but since there was no corpse, they could
not confirm any death. They say there are four missing officers, and
they have not seen any proof to say they are dead. But we are anxious.
We do not know whether he was abducted, and would return soon.”
The wife, Rukayat, a fashion designer and
mother of three, told our correspondent that life had not been pleasant
since her husband went missing. She added that the family had been
living from hand to mouth.
She said, “I don’t go to the police to
get updates, but my mother-in-law does. They always say Rasheed (Hakeem)
is not dead. Life has not been pleasant since May when we began to look
for him.
“People staying in Obadore area, where
the shootout occurred, said no corpse was found on the day of the
incident, and it was possible that the policemen did not die, but were
held hostage.
“It has not been easy trying to take care of three children without the support of my husband.
“During the Sallah, the police
authorities called to give me and the children some money for our
upkeep, but I pray that he returns safely.”
Another relation, who did not want her
name in print, said Nigerians should assist the family in finding the
policeman, as he was not reported to be among those killed during the
incident.
She said, “He has not returned home since
May 14. All of us and his friends have been kept in darkness on his
whereabouts by the Nigeria Police authorities.
“Nigerians should kindly assist us in
finding the policeman. His aged mother, his wife and children could no
longer bear this situation.”
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP
Bola Kolawole, promised to get back to our correspondent, but had yet to
do so as of press time.
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