UK Killing: Was Nigerian Lawmaker’s Son Murdered For Saving A Sex-Attack Victim?

The Federal Government has demanded justice from the UK government over the gruesome killing of a Nigerian, Abraham Badru in London.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on foreign affairs and diaspora, made the demand in a letter written to the British high commissioner in Nigeria.

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Badru, 26-year-old son of Enitan Badru, a member of the House of Representatives, was shot dead near his family home in London.

Police say Mr Badru was approached by a “suspect or number of suspects” after he had got out of his black Mercedes opposite the green in Ferncliff Road, and was shot in the chest, just after 11pm on Sunday.

“I wish to sadly bring to your attention, the killing of a 26-year old Nigerian, Abraham Badru, by a gunman on Ferncliff Road, Hackney, London, at about 11pm on March 25,” Dabiri-Erewa was quoted as saying by her media aide, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

“The deceased, a son of a current member of the house of representatives (Lagos Island constituency 1), Dolapo Badru, has worked as a football coach at the University of Gloucestershire, UK.

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“The deceased was also recently honoured with bravery award by the police after saving a sex-attack victim and assisted in the convictions of the attackers.

“His death has left his parents and other members of his family in deep shock, grief and agony.

“He was a successful and law-abiding person in the United Kingdom and also the sports development officer for six months in the city of Bristol.

“In view of the foregoing, we appeal to the British government to conduct thorough investigation into the gruesome killing of this young Nigerian and bring the perpetrator to justice accordingly.”

No one has yet been arrested in connection with the murder, but the British Police on Wednesday offered a reward of up to £20,000 for information about the murder of the 26-year-old.

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According to the Evening Standard, London’s murder rate in the past two months has been higher than New York City’s for the first time ever.

The investigation into Badru’s murder is one of 48 inquiries Scotland Yard has launched so far this year – eight in January, 15 in February, 22 in March and three in April.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Badru may have been killed by a gang after his actions years back led to the conviction of a sex-attacker.

Badru received a National Police Bravery Award for intervening in a sex attack on a teenage girl in 2009.

The 26-year-old football coach had saved the girl from being raped and gave evidence against her attacker in court.

There are suggestions that his murder may have been linked to his act of bravery years back.

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On the night he died, Badru had changed his plans as he was not meant to be home at that time and it is not clear how the killer knew where he would be.

It is believed the killer may have been lying in wait or rather have been watching the house in the days or weeks before the shooting.

Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector Noel McHugh said: “The answer to Abraham’s death lies in the community. I know that people are talking about what happened.

“It is something truly out of the ordinary, a community hero being murdered. His family and friends cannot comprehend what has happened, and there are no words that can adequately describe the pain Abraham’s family are going through.

“Abraham was a striking young man and a real contributor to society. His courage and overwhelming sense of what was right and wrong clearly demonstrated his strength of character.”

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