U.S. House Moves to Halt Aid to Nigeria Over Continued Killing of Christians
In July 2005, the then Inspector General of Police Mr.
Sunday Ehindero put in place a committee to investigate the
circumstances that led to the alleged killing of five Igbo traders and
their female friend by some policemen at the Apo mechanic village,
Abuja on June 7 of the same year.
However, the committee was headed by, Mike Okiro, then a Deputy Inspector General of Police.
However the committee was dissolved by the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The President hinged his decision on the fact that the Police could not be a Judge in its own case.
In addition, the President's action was predicated on the
testimonies of a photographer, hired by the Police in the Federal
Capital Territory(FCT) to take photographs of the lifeless bodies of the
six Nigerians sent to their untimely graves.
The photographer confessed that the police were responsible for the
crime, as he stated that he saw the police bring guns and placed by
the side of the corpses of the six, to make them look like armed
robbers, after which, the police ordered him to take their photographs.
The photographer further stated that, he could not believe his
eyes, when he saw the Commissioner of Police of the Command, explaining
to Nigerians that those killed were armed robbers, while making
particular reference to the photographs. Such instances abound till
today.
This development emboldened the President to put a stop to the
Police investigation, to avert a situation whereby the outcome of the
investigation would favour the Police.
Without hesitation, the President set up a Judicial Commission of
Inquiry to find out how the six were killed and the role of the police
in the incident.
Nigerians now realized that the action of the President, was an
indication that he lacked confidence in the competence of Ehindero, as
Inspector General of Police.
Complainants are converted to accused persons at Police stations,
when money exchange hands, just as criminals boast of their cordial
relationships with compromised officers and rank and file of the force.
Corruption and inefficiency have become recurring decimals in the
law enforcement agency, this has affected almost all senior officers,
who have occupied the number one position in the agency.
In this dispensation, Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief, when
Ibrahim Idris assumed office as the Police Boss. They thought that they
would soon begin to sleep with their two eyes closed This was not the
situation, considering the manner the Police had handled several cases.
Sadly, for several years, there has been a disconnect between the
IGP's office and the 36 state commands. This informed the establishment
of special task forces by successive Inspectors General of Police to
tackle crime nationwide.
Accusation of deprivation of funds and counter accusation of
mismanagement of funds have characterized the relationship between the
IGP's office and the 36 state Police Commands.
Indeed, on issues bothering on corruption, the Police cannot be a
Judge in its own case. The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission(EFCC) is an anti-graft agency, with a number of policemen
involved.
Indeed, the question of funding of the police still remains in the
circle of administrative bottlenecks and the late release of funds by
the Federal Government. Sabotage is now the order of the day. The
insecurity in land addresses the question.
Of worry, is the communication lag between the office of the IGP
and the Police Service Commission(PSC). The PSC is not responsible for
the appointment of the IGP.
Successive occupants of the IGP's seat have always been suspicious of any suggestion or advice emanating from the commission.
Interestingly, some state governments, which are vigorously
agitating for the establishment of state police, have taken advantage of
the insecurity in the land to unleash terror on innocent citizens.
The predicament of the sole occupant of No. 3, Kehinde Aderibigbe street, Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo state, is a good example.
Despite writing a petition title death threats to the Commissioner of Police and the assignment of the petition to the Monitoring unit, conspiracy remains the disturbing term.
Those a petition was written against have been emboldened by the conspiratorial attitude of the Police, to intensify threats, intimidation and attacks on the occupant.
Their major aim is to pervert justice.
However, state police cannot fly, in an environment filled with political office holders bereft of ideology and principles.
Nigerians should not be deceived by the activities of some selfish
and greed-driven citizens, who continuously discredit the present
centralization of the police structure, in favor of sectional
interests and design.
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