Nigeria: Senior Special Assistant Condemns killing of Nigerian Teenager

Fola Orebiyi

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned the stabbing to death of another Nigerian teenager in London.

In a statement signed recently by her Special Assistant on Media, Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa said the killing of 17-year-old Fola Orebiyi, was unacceptable to the government and people of Nigeria.

The presidential aide said the killing of Orebiyi and other extra-judicial killings of Nigerian citizens in UK was becoming worrisome.

She called for a thorough investigation of the incident and urged the UK Government to ensure that justice prevailed.

While condoling with the family of the deceased over the ugly incident, she prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

She said that while Nigeria would not condone crime and criminal tendencies, it took exception to the harassment, killing and execution of its nationals abroad unjustifiably.

The statement said that Orebiyi was stabbed to death during a street clash by a gang of youths at Notting Hill, London.

It said that he was reportedly chased down the busy road, where he was stabbed in the neck in front of shocked passersby and tourists. It added that efforts by the Police and paramedics to resuscitate him when an ambulance arrived proved abortive.

Reacting to the death, the deceased’s neighbour, Osman Sahal, told the police “He was a nice boy and very considerate; none of us can understand how this could have happened.

“As far as I knew, he was never in trouble. I suppose we must now wait for the police to investigate,” Sahal was quoted as saying.

Orebiyi, who completed his General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) at Holland Park in London, was studying for his `A’ levels at the Chelsea Academy before his death, the statement said.

It said that London Police had arrested a yet-to-be identified 15-year-old boy in connection with the death.