In a shocking development, Damilola Busari, the son of Pastor Stephen Busari, was arrested by the Nigerian Army for his role in a brutal attack on Alfa Sulaimon and his family during the Ileya Festival on June 16, 2024, in Iseyin.
The incident left Sulaimon with a broken head, his wife with a broken leg, and another family member with head injuries.
This violent attack, allegedly orchestrated by both Damilola and his father, has sparked outrage within the community. The swift action by the Nigerian Army in arresting Damilola Busari has been widely commended, given the severity of the attack and the involvement of an officer from the Nigerian Armed Forces, who is expected to protect civilians.
However, tensions have risen as the Nigerian Army has refused to hand over Sergeant Damilola Busari to the police for prosecution.
Legal experts and civil rights groups, including THURIST-Nigeria, have urged the Army to transfer Busari to the police, highlighting that the Nigerian Army lacks prosecutorial authority over civil offenses committed by officers against civilians.
Meanwhile, the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from Iyaganku, Ibadan, has visited the crime scene to conduct a thorough investigation. The community is now awaiting the arraignment of Pastor Stephen Busari and his son.
R. Azeez, Esq., Secretary of THURIST-Nigeria, expressed the organization’s gratitude for the Army’s initial response but emphasized the necessity of adhering to legal protocols by involving the police in the prosecution process.
