National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
By: Okosun Dennis
The Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma has raises concern about the propensity and high number of killings by law enforcement agents in a desperate attempt to enforce the lockdown imposed across the country following the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.
He noted that a situation where the number of people killed due to police brutality or high handedness are more than those killed by the virus was “unacceptable.”
Decrying the untold harrassment and deaths in the hands of the police, Nwanguma in a statement in Lagos said that “From Anambra State where two persons were shot and one other citizen had two of his car tyres shot at and bursted by a member of a Police team, after they allegedly demanded for bribe from the victim does not preach the good image of the force.
He explained, “In Abia State one was shot dead, precipitating a riot and retaliatory attack and burning of a Police Station and police vehicles. It led to the releasing of detainees in the Police cell by the rioting members of the community.
“Also in Osun State, police officers were seen in a trending video repeatedly flogging a lady. It’s been an increasing spate of Police killings, brutality and reckless abuse of firearms,” he reiterated.
While commending the Osun State Police Command for its prompt response to the “dastardly act of unprovoked and unjustifiable brutality”, observed that having read the statement issued by the Command condemning it as a ‘discreditable conduct’ and ‘reckless incivility against civilians’ and promised to ensure justice”, it would be in the best interest of the publics to restrain police officers and conduct themselves well in accordance with their code of conduct.
“I commend the Inspector General of Police for always rising to the occasion by promptly ordering the arrest of unruly officers and investigation of acts of brutality and misconduct. But we need to see the outcome of investigations into these cases and RULAAC and its partner-organisations across the states are monitoring and would keep documenting,” Nwanguma emphasized.
He also berated the youths in Ebem Ohafia, who went too far by taking laws into their hands attacking and burning a Police Station, vehicles and releasing detainees. While we understand that police killings are capable of provoking public anger, uprisings and retaliatory attacks, which is why police officers should always act professionally, responsibly and with restraint, and avoid abusing police powers.
“We condemn the extreme actions taken by the youths by burning police stations and police assets. That violent response could lead to an escalation of the conflict and result to more loss of lives. We hope that urgent conciliatory and preventing measures are taken to prevent further escalation.
Particularly, he expressed disappointment with the case in Anambra state and the way the state Police Command attempted to twist the facts, and shield the killers, adding that RULAAC has already called on the Governor of Anambra State to set up an independent inquiry to go to the root of the matter with a view to unravelling the truth and recommend measures to forestall a repeat of such tragedy.
RULAAC, therefore, commended the Inspector General of Police for putting in place an effective mechanism to monitor the conduct of police officers carrying out the duties of enforcement of lockdown across the state but added that he should ensure that the “Standard Operating Procedures spelling out the code of conducts and rules of engagement should be made available to the officers.”
RULAAC is a non-profit, Non-governmental human rights advocacy organization established with commitment to promoting law enforcement accountability, transparent and responsible policing, and respect for human rights and rule of law.
