After nearly a year, Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos High Court found police officer Drambi Vandi guilty of one count of murder of Bolanle Raheem, who was pregnant at the time when she was shot dead Christmas Day last year.
Vandi, who is attached to the Ajiwe police division in Ajah, was suspended from duty two days after the incident. The state government subsequently filed a one-count charge of murder against him.
The deceased’s husband, sister, police armourer, pathologist, and seven other people testified against Vandi in the trial that started in January of this year. 27 exhibits were also presented by the prosecution.
Vandi, being the sole witness in his own defence, argued that the bullet presented in court, purportedly responsible for Raheem’s death, did not originate from the rifle he carried on the day of the incident.
He also claimed that he had never seen the bullet until it was tendered in court.
Justice Harrison, however, dismissed Vandi’s defence and imposed the death penalty by hanging.
Many praised the uncommon verdict as a stern response to widespread instances of police misconduct. The decision to impose the death penalty received widespread support in Nigeria, a country where allegations of police abuse and extrajudicial killings are frequent.
Police brutality against women is a pressing concern that demands our immediate attention and action. It encompasses various forms of abuse, including physical assault, sexual harassment, unlawful detention, and verbal intimidation.
Such incidents occur far too frequently, leaving countless women traumatized and scarred.
It’s imperative that we recognize and confront this issue head-on. We must break the silence and stand together against the systemic abuse that women face at the hands of those sworn to protect them. It’s a grave injustice that affects women from all walks of life, regardless of age, ethnicity, or social status.