A coalition of human rights organisations has called on the Lagos State Police Command to sustain efforts towards ensuring justice in the ongoing investigation into two separate murder cases in Ajiranland, Eti-Osa Local Council Area of Lagos State.

The groups — Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR), Centre for Economic and Human Rights Advancement (CEHRA), and Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) — made the call while addressing journalists in Lagos.

Mr Sheriff Ishola Salami and Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye were murdered at different locations in the area on April 18, 2023, and August 26, 2024, respectively. Salami was killed in Moba town, adjacent to Ajiran community, while Akinloye was murdered along Chevron Drive, Lekki.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, President of CHSR, Comrade Alex Omosehinde, said the briefing followed earlier demands for thorough police investigation and diligent prosecution.

He said: “We were pleased that Lagos State Police Command under the immediate past Commissioner of Police, Mr Olohundare Moshood Jimoh apprehended some suspects and declared the masterminds wanted at a press briefing held by the immediate past Commissioner of Police at the Command headquarters on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

“It is reassuring that the prime suspect has been apprehended in Cotonou, Benin Republic on April 15, 2026 by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) and currently being held in custody at the Zone 2 headquarters of the Nigeria Police, Onikan, Lagos.

“It would be in the overriding interest of justice if those found culpable of perpetrating, as well as aiding and abetting the murders of Salami and Prince Akinloye are made to face prosecution in the law court following the conclusion of diligent investigations.”

Omosehinde said the groups maintained that justice must be seen to have been done in the cases, which have caused distress to the victims’ families.

He commended the media for sustained attention to the matter since 2023, noting that the briefing formed part of ongoing civil society efforts to defend victims of human rights abuses and promote justice.

He said: “It has however become pertinent to draw the attention of the media to deliberate and self-serving antics of certain individuals masquerading as genuine civil society stakeholders but whose aim is to pervert justice through unfounded and misleading campaigns and aspersions against the police authority in the state.

“These individuals, for whatever reasons, appear ruffled and disgruntled by the arrests of suspects and particularly the determination of the Lagos State Police Command in apprehending Alhaji Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi whom prima facie evidence already established as the architect of the multiple murder incidents.

“Prior to the arrest of the prime suspect, Alhaji Tajudeen Ahmed Akanbi, the suspects already in the custody of the Lagos State Police Command include Safiu Fatai a.k.a. Fabo (40) and Yusuf Ismaila a.k.a. Bariga, who according to the police, were apprehended on January 24, 2026, and February 6, 2026 respectively, following renewed investigations into the murder incidents.”

Omosehinde said the coalition considered it necessary to alert the media to what it described as ill-motivated campaigns aimed at undermining legitimate police investigations.

He added that investigating criminal incidents remains the constitutional responsibility of the police. (The Guardian, but headline rejigged)