Charles Okafor

2010

Ajegunle, Lagos.

On the first day of April 2010, Charles Okafor decided to watch a football match with his friends at a viewing center in Ajegunle. He was watching a match between Liverpool and Benfica. It was only minutes into the game when men of the Nigerian Police Force barged into the center. Some came in through the door while others jumped in through the windows. 

These men asked the boys in the room to lie down on the floor, which they all complied with, and police officers proceeded to conduct an illegal search on them. They claimed the phones and monies they found. When it was Chares Okafor’s turn, he resisted, asking why he was being searched. One of the policemen struck him with his gun. Charles fell on the floor while the men continued their raid. Some of the boys were arrested and were only released after they gave the officers money. 

When the policemen were done and about leaving, the man who hit Charles saw him lying down and asked, “Why are you still lying down, pretending you are dead?”. Provoked at his stillness, the policeman continued to hit him with his gun. He hit him several times and ended the operation by spraying teargas on him. After the men left, before help could reach Charles, he had passed away. 

Two days later, a protest was held in Ajegunle to demand justice for his death but the protesters were met with violence from the police force which ended in the death of another youth, Babatunde Olotu. Till date, none of the officers involved in both killings have been brought to book.