SARS Is a Rogue Organisation: Charge Killers of Kolade with Common Law Murder

Johnson Kolade

One of the most sacred obligations of a sovereign state is to protect “live, liberty, and property” of its citizens. The sacred obligation is to protect all, not a few. If the “sword” of the sovereign state is directed at those it sworn to protect, then we are no different from those who live in a state of anarchy.

To some of our fellow Nigerians, particularly those who are constantly fearful of being summarily executed by a rogue organisation, SARS, they are already living in the state of anarchy. The state of anarchy breeds impunity, for it empowers brigands (SARS) to kill vulnerable people.
Last weekend, these brigands struck again, summarily executing a young man, Kolade Johnson. What was Kolade’s crime? Like other young Nigerians, he was watching a football game. These brigands, acting with reckless disregard for human life, knowingly and intentionally, fired their weapons multiple times, killing Kolade. A reasonable person should have known that firing weapons in a crowded place would likely hit a wrong target.

These brigands did not care, for they thought they could get away with their senseless actions. Now that they have been arrested, they should be dealt with to the full extent of the law.

Because they acted recklessly, and they knew their actions would summarily execute someone, they should be charged with common law murder, for they showed reckless indifference to an unjustifiably high risk to human life (people with "abandoned and malignant hearts" should not be policing our communities).

World People, let us speak up for Kolade, and ask the inspector general to charge these brigands with nothing less than murder.

Rest in Peace, Kolade.

Akintunde F. Adeyemo (JD)