By Fisayo Akinduro

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The family of the deceased police officer allegedly killed by the Department of State Service (DSS) operatives have begged government not to allow his death to be in vain.
The Hope gathered that the deceased, Rauf Fawale, was allegedly hit on the head with a plank while hanging out with the DSS operatives in Osogbo.
Before his demise, the deceased was attached to Dada Estate Police Station.
The Hope while speaking with the deceased’s father, Rabiu Fawale, he said his son was killed due to his recent promotion at work.
According to the father, the deceased who was 35 years old was also his first child.
He said Rauf joined the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, about three years ago after he graduated from school.
“I got to know about the incident from my farm settlement. A message narrating the incident was sent to me at Mokore Farm Settlement where I reside and work as a farmer.
“I hurriedly left the farm for Osogbo and went straight to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital where he was admitted.
“My son was a very humble and easy-going person. He never quarrelled with anybody and he always minded his business.
“I was told that some DSS officials led by a certain David Olowoporoku attacked and hit him on the head with planks at the birthday party of his boss.
“My son was definitely killed because of the promotion he just received. They killed my son because of promotion.
“All I want from the government is to help me get justice so that my son will not die in vain.”
Also speaking, the wife of the deceased, Balikis Fawale, said the deceased had three children and the youngest is a month old.
While explaining the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband, she said her husband left home for work on that fateful Thursday morning but was surprisingly brought home on Friday by one Tunji as he was unable to walk on his own.
“Tunji did not explain to me if anything had happened to my husband; he only advised him to get enough rest. I called his sister the following morning when I noticed that his condition was getting out of hand.
“That’s how we took him from one hospital to the other before he finally gave up the ghost after receiving treatment for a week.
“I was informed that my husband was attacked by the DSS officials at the birthday party of his boss. He was promoted to the rank of Inspector about three weeks ago. My husband was murdered because of promotion.
“I want the government and the Commissioner of Police to come to my rescue. My husband must not die in vain. I’m nursing a one-month-old baby, they should come to my aid to get justice for my husband’s death.”
On her part, the immediate younger sister of the deceased, Adijat Rafiu said she discovered a little mark at the back of his head and a clot of blood inside his ear after receiving a distress call from the deceased’s wife.
“I put across to my elder brother who arrived within a twinkle of an eye. We also called his friend Lukman, who revealed to us that my brother had issues with officers of the DSS but could not explain if a physical brawl happened between them. In short, Lukman came to join us and together we took him to a private hospital.
“He was treated there some hours before we were referred to UNIOSUN teaching hospital. It was there that his head was scanned and Doctors discovered that he had sustained fatal internal injuries. The doctors advised us to take him to UCH Ibadan, but considering his condition and time constraint, we took him to a specialist hospital where surgery was performed on the head and he was being treated before he gave up the ghost a week after.
“All we demand now is justice for our dead brother. He is the breadwinner and the glory of our family and we don’t want him to die in vain.
“David Olowoporoku is the alleged killer of our brother. We want Osun State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to come to our aid and bring David Olowoporoku to book.”
Reacting to the incident, the Osun State Public Relations Officer, SP Yemisi Opalola confirmed that the deceased was beaten to a coma.
“Concerning the issue, we heard that he was beaten, he was beaten by three personnel of Directorate of Security Service, DSS. He was beaten by one David Olowoporokun and two unknown others. The corporal was beaten to a coma.
“When the DPO was informed, he was rushed to the hospital where he was receiving treatment. He had serious head injury. The doctors tried their best but it’s unfortunately we lost him.
“His corpse had been released to his family for burial, he is a Muslim and the Islamic rites had to be performed.
“After the report of the beating, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode interfaced with the Director of DSS and he promised to produce the three culprits.
The DSS director said on their part, they have begun their disciplinary proceedings but the CP insisted that they should be brought to the police since the case involved the police for discrete investigation and for further prosecution.
“This the CP also told the prosecutor of the case. The case is still on, we assure the press that the right action will take place because no criminal will go unpunished.
“It has to be done the way it ought to be done to serve as warning for other people in future.
“Whether you are a member of the force or in power, such shouldn’t be done to anyone. These culprits will be brought to book.
“On behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Police Command and the entire police of the State Command, we want to commiserate with the family of the deceased on the demise of their son and we pray that God will give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. He is our brother and our colleague.
“I wish to use this medium to appeal to all sister security agencies that we should see ourselves as one family working towards the same goal.
“There should be no rivalry among us, we are working to make sure there is adequate security in the country, in the state, in our environment. We should see ourselves as one.
“If there is any disagreement, or issue between us, we should channel the matter to the appropriate quarters for amicable resolution or settlement. We shouldn’t be taking laws into our hands. After all we are all working for adequate security to be achieved in the Command and country at large.”
Opalola urged members of the public not to panic about the incident which involved security personnels, as some may start asking if they are safe in the community.
“They should not be worried, such will not repeat itself again. We will ensure we inform the members of the public as the case progresses.
“The officer concerned is dead but before he died, he couldn’t talk since the day of the beating. He couldn’t explain what happened between himself and the DSS men.
“Until today, the DSS men have not been released to us in order to hear from them what really happened.”