On Wednesday, 26th of October, 2016, the House of Representatives summoned the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, to appear before it over escalating cases of extra-judicial killings in the country by his men.
The Police boss is to appear before the House Committees on Police Affairs and Human Rights, along with heads of other security agencies.
The House had cited the case of Bayelsa State, where it said the Joint Task Force and the Police had killed four “innocent Nigerians” in the last two weeks.
I believe that since it is a Joint Task Force, how are we sure it is the Police that killed the four “innocent Nigerians” in the last two weeks?
It will be recalled that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris on resumption of office promised Nigerians that the Police will be reformed to meet the International Standard of Policing.
In line with this, the IGP had put together, in collaboration with “Nigerians Unite Against Terror” a Training on Human Rights and Police-Citizens’ Relation for SARS Officers in the 12 Police Zonal Commands which was held simultaneously at the 12 Police Zonal Commands from 19th to 21st of October, 2016.
I was part of that training and from my interactions with some of the SARS Officers, I doubt if those claiming that Police are involved in extra-judicial killing are sincere about their allegations.
In the case of Eleki Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State where Izu Joseph, Innocent Kokorifa, Inyan and Godgift Oduku were allegedly killed by the Police, we have to look at the security agencies that made up of the JTF.
Is the JTF strictly Policemen of we have the Civil Defence, Nigeria Army and Nigeria Navy as part of the Team?
From my many trips to Bayelsa, I rarely see Policemen in volatile community such as Eleki Community but the Army and Navy in the JTF Vans patrolling the communities.
Although I must comment Hon. Sodaguwo Festus-Omoni and his colleagues for raising the issue of extra-judicial killings in Bayelsa, but I think they should have done their homework to know the particular security outfit that were involved in the extra-judicial killings.
I must commend the Chairman, House Committee on Ethics/Privileges, Mr. Nicholas Ossai, as he enjoined members to rise against extra-judicial killings by “security agencies” instead of particularizing the Police.
I am against injustice and recklessness by security agencies and I am using this avenue to call on other security agencies to borrow a leave from Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris by organizing training on Human Rights and Citizens’ Relations for their personnel.
Written by Adewole Kehinde.
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