By Mark C. Orgu, News/Comments, October 18, 2021
ABUJA-As some bad elements of the Nigeria Police force continue to give the force bad image, many Nigerians keep wondering when personnel will ever learn their lessons, not even from the #Endsars protest where citizens want Police reform and stop the brutality. The incident in Kogi State at the weekend where a traveler was slapped by a Police officer in a video gives less hope of police repentant in their already dented image of citizens brutality.
Meanwhile, an Witness who filmed the incident and shared it online, said that a group of police officers stopped the commercial bus to carry out a search. During their search, they found a laptop on a man who said he was a student and used the laptop for his assignments. The man claimed the officers did not believe the student and demanded N25, 000 bribe. He went further to narrate that the passenger claimed the officers took the him to a point-of-sale operator where they made the him withdraw N25, 000 and handed it over to them as they did not want it transferred to any of their accounts for easy detection. The man claimed that when one of the passengers frowned at the officer for corking his gun, the officer got angry and slapped the man and threatened that if he corked his gun, nothing will happen. The man claimed the police officer threatened that blood will flow if they do not caution themselves.
Based on this ugly scenario, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has quickly swing into action by ordering the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command to immediately carry out discrete investigations into the incident to reduce tension about the said video going round social media and ensure that justice is done within the ambit of law. ”The IGP calls for calm, noting that at the end of the investigations, justice will be done to the victim of the incident and police personnel found guilty, brought to book”
Meanwhile the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has vowed to follow up the matter till its final logical conclusion against the police officers who waged riotous attack on an innocent passenger in the state.
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This came when the Governor was reacting to the bad incident while also applauding the State Police Command for quick response towards arresting and detenting the Police officers who acted against the rule of engagement. In a statement released to pressmen at the yesterday through the Commissioner of Information and Communications in the state, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the Governor reiterated that his government will not accept any form of police brutality against the youth in the state. : “The Kogi State Government wishes to commend the leadership of the State Command of the Nigerian Police for heeding to the call made by Governor Yahaya Bello to fish out officers who waged riotous attack on an innocent passenger in the state”
“Governor Yahaya Bello promptly directed the State Command to immediately fish out the riotous Police Officers who clearly infringed on the rights of the passenger as such flagrant abuse of rights is not condoned in the State. “As a Government, we are pleased with the swift intervention of the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban on the matter. We are aware the unprofessional Officers have been identified, apprehended and would be tried immediately.
“As a Government led by young people, we believe Police brutality against the youth is a thing we must kick against in view of our recent history as a nation. The Government of Kogi State will follow up on this case to ensure justice is served and served adequately to signal a deterrent for possible future occurrence. Our nation will only thrive when the rights of the citizens are respected and protected. This is what the administration of Alh. Yahaya Bello stands for in Kogi State and his wish for Nigeria. We owe Nigerians a responsibility of protection and security as the centre of the nation”
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