By Yusuf Oketola
Mrs Balikis Fawale, wife of a Police corporal, Rauf Fawale, who was allegedly beaten to death by three operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), said her husband was attacked at the birthday party of his boss.
Fawale, a father of three attached to Dada Estate Police Division in Osogbo, died on Sunday, January 24, 2021, at a private hospital in the capital of the State of Osun.
He was said to have sustained a head injury after being attacked by his assailants.
Balikis said her late husband went to the party after he was promoted to the rank of Inspector about three weeks earlier, alleging that he was killed because of his promotion.
She said: “My husband was a policeman attached to Dada Estate Police Station. He left home for work on that fateful Thursday morning, but was surprisingly brought home on Friday by one Tunji. 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 was how we started to be taking him from one hospital to the other before he finally gave up the ghost on Sunday after receiving treatment for a week.
“I was informed that my husband was attacked by some 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 his promotion.”
She, however, urged the government and the Commissioner of Police to help her secure justice on the murder of her late husband.
“I want government and the Commissioner of Police to come to my rescue. My husband must not die in vain. I am nursing a-month-old baby, they should come to my aid to get justice for my husband’s death.”
Briefing journalists on the matter, the Spokesperson of Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, said one of the DSS officers identified as David Olowoporoku and other two summoned the deceased to a club house, River Side in Osogbo and allegedly brutalized him.
She said the State Commissioner for Police, Wale Olokode has met with the Director of DSS and was assured of ongoing disciplinary action against those complicit in the matter.
