The Centre for Social and Economic Rights (CSER) has condemned in strong terms the murder of Police Chief Superintendent Kazeem Abonde.

On Thursday, Abonde and his men moved against okada riders flouting the Lagos government’s directive in and around Ajao Estate.

As scores of the motorcycle operators revolted, the police operatives took to their heels for fear of being lynched.

CSP Abonde got exposed and was boxed in. The attackers pounced on him, smashed his head and ran away as he died in a pool of blood.

Legaldeskng gathered that the deceased was preparing to bow out from the Force in 2022 and planned to be a lawyer after retirement. He already bagged law a degree.

A statement by Nelson Ekujumi, CSER Executive Director expressed sadness over the gruesome killing.

“This is an assault on the sovereignty of the Nigerian state by criminals who must be apprehended and brought to justice as quickly as possible”, it read.

The rights body insists that under the constitution of Nigeria, no one, whether civilians or security agents, have a right to extra judicially terminate human life.

Ekujumi regretted how Abonde’s team abandoned their commander to be executed in the discharge of lawful duty.

He declared that their “unprofessional” action “smacks of incompetence, dereliction of duty and culpability for murder”.

“We call on the police authorities to ensure that investigation of this act of criminality extends to all the officers and men who participated in the joint operation.”

CSER condoled with Abonde’s family, the police, other mourners and prayed God to grant the departed soul eternal rest.