Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), a rights group based in Aba, Abia State has called the attention of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to the recent killings that happened in the State.
The killings was carried out by the men of the Nigerian Police force, Abia State command, who were attached by the State Covid-19 taskforce team to enforce lockdown on the residents over Coronavirus.
The recent killings on the list of Police extra-judicial killings in Abia, was that of Mr. Friday, a native of Ohafia, who was shot dead on Friday, 17th of April by a police officer.
Reacting to this, FENRAD in a statement signed by Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the foundation Executive Director, appealed to the IGP to redeploy Mr. Ene Okon, Abia State Police Commissioner, noting that “No state, let alone Abia, can be safe under such policing”.
The full statement reads below…
“The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), a rights group based in Aba, Abia State, wishes to expressly bring to the attention of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, the recent brutal use of maximum force by some police men and officers leading to loss of Nigerian lives in enforcement of statewide lockdown and the attendant stay-at-home order in this Covid-19 period.
“FENRAD recalls a release of Sunday April 22, 2020, signed by Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Frank Mbah, which issued operational guidelines to the men and officers of the force through various zonal Assistant Inspectors-Genral (AIGs) to state Commissioners of Police (CPs) towards ensuring that during the Coronavirus containment period, policing is done with respect to Human Rights. It should also be borne in mind that the said letter detailed that unnecessary arrest and detention should not be carried out during a time such as this. Barring cases of “terrorism”, “armed robbery”, “homicide” and other “non-bailable” offences, no person is to be detained unlawfully. Sadly, the reverse has been the case with Abia and indigenes and residents therein.
“Certain officers of the force have neither complied with these stipulated measures nor ensured adherence to laid down rules of engagement which have always been the watchword of the Nigerian Police.
“FENRAD wishes to apprise the IG that while a life has not been lost in Abia to the dreaded novel Coronavirus, same has been lost on four occasions with three of such losses coming from certain officers within some attachments of the force.
“On Monday, April 6, 2020, one inspector Stanley of the police force shot dead Mr. Chibuisi along Ururuka in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. FENRAD gathers that Inspector Stanley is in the custody of the police and seeks expeditious public trial to the extent that justice is seen to have been done. Again, on Friday, April 17, 2020, another incident happened which resulted in the death of another citizen along Uratta Road, Aba. It was that a police officer had battered a man operating a tricycle with gun butt and the fellow passed out. This led to angry crowd gathering insisting on seeing the “remains” of the tricycle operator. Even when it was discovered that the fellow had not died, a shot fired by another officer at the crowd which incidentally hit one of persons in the crowd. Death occurred.
“In Ebem Ohafia, Ohafia LGA, one man identified as Mr. Friday, again was shot dead by an officer following an earlier altercation on Friday, April 17, 2020. This inept policing, FENRAD notes, is inconsistent with rules of operation and standard set aside for the Nigerian police and is capable of sliding a hitherto peaceful state into anarchy.
“Aside cases were lives had been lost, sundry issues of rights abuses abound which call into question the place of Human Rights as cited in the release the IG had issued in line with Covid-19 lockdown enforcement. Many vehicles carrying essential commodities, which ordinarily under the law is permitted, are being exploited by the men of the force who insist on being tipped before allowing pass. Indigent citizens are being arrested, who are also detained, as against the directive from the IG at a time social distancing is counseled.
“Worrisome more, even most, was the clobbering and manhandling of three lawyers to wit: Messrs Victor Onweremadu, Onyemachi Chukwu and Arinze Celestine Chukwu, two of whom had, after inspecting the ongoing statewide fumigation and disinfection, as Monitoring Committee members, gone to bail some clients detained for three days. From FENRAD’s interviews and phone calls, it was gathered that some men within the Commissioner of Police’s Unit (CP’s Unit) had carried out an assault against the two barristers later joined by their friend, Arinze Chukwu Esq.
“It is worrisome as to why there should be such Unit under the Commissioner’s command when already there exists a police station with officers where this same Unit is equally stationed.
“FENRAD has regard for the law and respect for constituted authorities and has heretofore, through its numerous releases, urged Abians to remain law-abiding and peaceful. FENRAD earnestly demands justice so that these officers are prosecuted and if found guilty punished accordingly. Right to life is natural and cannot be taken except where the law is contemplative and express.
“FENRAD wishes to appeal to the office and person of the IG to deem it necessary to redeploy Mr. Ene Okon, Abia State Police Commissioner, these deaths rights abuses given. No state, let alone Abia, can be safe under such policing.
“Abia deserves securitization and operationalization of security service by the police but not at the expense of lives of her innocent indigenes.
“FENRAD seeks to commend the good works done already by the police in many and different respects and urges for professionalism.
