Policeman who killed Tina knelt down, begged for forgiveness

The Lagos State Police Command has indicted two policemen, Assistant Superintendent of Police Theophilus Otobo and Inspector Oguntoba Olamigoke, in the killing of Tina, saying their conduct fell short of professional standards; does it make you feel better?

No, they are not supposed to be two; there were five of them. The ASP and four inspectors were involved in the incident and the five of them wrote statements at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti. They also did that at Ogudu Police Station before they were taken to Panti.

How difficult has it been for the family since she was killed?

When she died, her mother collapsed at the hospital; she died at a government hospital on Lagos Island. We had to revive her mother. Her mother has been finding it difficult to sleep but she is getting better. She was with her daughter at the hospital when she died. I visited them when the incident happened and was there when they gave Tina the first pint of blood. She could not make it even after she was given a second pint of blood.

How did you feel when you heard that your niece was shot?

Immediately, I called the Divisional Police Officer and he invited us to his office. He said when the policemen returned to the office, he asked them if everything was okay. It was the DPO of Oworo Police Station that informed him that his men had shot a teenager at Underbridge, Berger bus stop. When she was shot, she was first taken to a private hospital at Bariga. When the DPO heard about it, he called for an ambulance to take her to a government hospital on Lagos Island.

What comes to your mind each time you remember Tina?

When I sit down, I remember how she usually played with me. She would ask about my work and other affairs. I would ask her about her studies and if she was studying well and helping her mum, and she would say yes. When I remember her and all those times, I feel pained in my heart. She was very young; she was born on January 10, 2003.

What was the last conversation you had with her?

I went to their place and gave them money to buy some things. She said thank you. They bought some snacks and ate them in my presence. That was over a month ago.

It has not been easy for her siblings; they look around and can’t see their sister anymore so they ask about her. One of them woke up one day and repeatedly asked, ‘Where is my sister?’ It is like a dream to them. They were shocked to hear their sister was shot dead by a policeman. She was the second daughter of the mother and their mother (my sister) has five children left now out of six.

Do you know what she wanted to become in the future?

One day, I asked her what she wanted to become in the future. She said would like to become a medical doctor to care for people. She said after taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination which she was supposed to take this year, she would apply to take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination so she could study medicine in university next year.

What kind of person was she?

She was a sociable person; she played a lot with friends. She loved reading motivational books and was very jovial.

Are you satisfied with how the police have handled the case so far?

I was bothered when you said only two policemen were indicted. There were five policemen at that place and they have written their statements at Panti. But I appreciate the DPO of Bariga police station because he tried all he could financially to ensure she did not die. It is sad that she is gone forever; we cannot see her again.

What kind of justice will you like to see?

Nigeria has laws and if you kill, you should also go that way. That is the kind of justice I need.

Have you had any interaction with the policeman who shot and killed your niece?
Yes.

How did you feel when you saw him?

He was kneeling down and begging me at Panti. I said, ‘You are a senior police officer who has spent 31 years in service. If it was a junior officer, it would appear like he didn’t know how to use a gun but you have been in the police force for 31 years, so it means that you intentionally did it.’ I heard when his attention was drawn to my dying niece after he shot her, he said they should be happy that she was not dead yet. That was what the man said. Even before the incident, anytime he came to the area, he always disturbed my sister. He always picked on her. He would kick her fruits into the gutter. He was always troubling her at the bus stop where she sells fruits.