The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned the killing of a female lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, by a police officer in Ajah, Lagos.

Tony Ojukwu, executive secretary of the NHRC, made the condemnation in a statement reacting to the death of Ms Raheem.

The commission described the incident as regrettable, adding that the officer had fallen short of standard operating procedure and professional ethics of the police.

“The hierarchy of the Nigeria Police, as a matter of necessity, should always ensure that officers who bear arms must, by all means, be mentally balanced,” said the NHRC statement. “Also, must respect the rules of engagement of the police force. Enough is enough of these avoidable deaths.”

According to the statement, the commission went around the country to train police officers on human rights best practices and how to mainstream human rights in law enforcement operations, “yet, we are still recording sad incidents of extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the police officers.”

It, however, commended the police high command for immediately arresting the officers involved in the killing of Ms Raheem, with NHRC promising to keep monitoring the investigation and prosecution of the officer to ensure that justice was adequately served.

A police officer shot Ms Raheem on Christmas Day in the Ajah area of Lagos.

Inspector general of police Usman Baba had since ordered a probe of the shooting.

(NAN)