COSEYL berates police unprofessionalism, extrajudicial killings in South East geo-political zone

Tue, Jul 14, 2020
By publisher
4 MIN READ

Politics

THE recent extrajudicial killings mostly by men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force in the South-East region in recent time, especially since the imposition of the nationwide lockdown to curb, contain and curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus have come to the notice and knowledge of the Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, COSEYL.

The Coalition observed that since the imposition and subsequent enforcement of the lockdown measure, many police and other law enforcement agencies have reportedly shot dead Nigerian citizens of the region as against the rules of engagement or even the lockdown protocol itself.

For instance on April 16, 2020 in Umuika Junction at Isialangwa North LGA of Abia state, an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps shot dead one Amobi Igwe, a motorist said to be on essential duty. Also, before the incident of Igwe, a police officer at Ururuka in Obingwa LGA of Abia state shot dead Chibuisi a tragic event that left many mourning. There was also the killing of Friday Arunsi at Ebem Ohafia on Friday, April 17, 2020, leading to riot and protest in which properties, including court building and other government properties were utterly destroyed.

While all these and more happened during the lockdown, the Coalition condemns the wave of killings (in similar manner again) that have trailed the post-lockdown era. Just within 24 hours two horrible deaths have befallen the region yet again. On Wednesday, July 8, 2020, Ifeanyi Kalu, a revenue taskforce officer, working with Abia State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) was reportedly shot dead by a police officer attached to a fast-food company – Crunchies Fried Chicken Limited – when the company’s vehicle got impounded allegedly on the grounds of revenue offence and the company’s sales person invited the armed police officer with the company. The sporadic shooting by the police officer hit the revenue agent and that led to his untimely death. In Banana junction, within Orlu in Imo state, a certain police officer (of the rank of an inspector) equally killed a motorcyclist allegedly for not wearing a nose mask.

The intimidation and killings of unarmed and innocent citizens daily by security personnel whose duty is, above all, to protect lives and property of citizens and residents.

COSEYL has these and equally other records of harassment, intimidation and even exploitation of motorists and innocent citizens all over the region during and after the lockdown. This is unacceptable, given that the same guns bought with taxpayers money are now used against the same taxpayers rather than being used against bandits, terrorists, armed herdsmen and other criminal elements.

COSEYL regrets to state that these killings, which are now becoming an enterprise among our security agents – more especially the police – seem to be repeating itself because at no point have these suspected killers been brought to book or made to face justice.

We demand a total shut-down of Crunchies Fried Chicken Limited, located at No 6 factory road, Aba until the killing of Ifeanyi Kalu by a police officer attached to the company is resolved. We will drag the company and the police officer involved to court. Enough of these nonsense.

COSEYL urges the five state governments of the region to look into these deaths and see ways to ameliorate same else the region may slide into anarchy. As unprofessional as the security agents deployed to the peaceful region have conducted themselves, COSEYL believes that the inherent porosity in the system has fattened this impunity and lawlessness. The five commissioners of police of the region, the Assistant Inspector General, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu must call their men and officers to order as the war is against the virus and not against Nigerians of South-East region.

– Jul. 14, 2020 @ 14:15 GMT

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