EndSars: CSOs charge new IGP to disband corrupt police formations

….. investigate officers to avoid another EndSars

By Cypriam.Ebele, Onitsha

Dissatisfied with the spate of corruption in the Nigerian Police Force, chieftains of Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, that include,  Uzor A. Uzor, Executive director, Human Rights Defender, Southeast and Chairman, Campaign for Democracy, CD, Southeast, and an Abuja based activist, Chukwuma Nwangwu, Thursday charged the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Tunji Disu, to disband all corrupt police formations and investigate their personnel.

Giving the charge, Uzor said it would help to restore the lost glory of the Nigerian Police Force and avoid another EndSars protest caused by corrupt police officers.

 His words, “IGP should set up a disciplinary committee to punish those who are involved in corruption. All the corrupt police formations that include, Special Investigation Unit, SIU, Force headquarters Abuja, Asokoro Police station, Abottoir police station, among others should be immediately disbanded as they have commercialised the police force to trading ventures.

“The officers there and others now settle land disputes, confiscate people’s phones in the name of looking for Yahoo boys, among other atrocities. So the new IGP should set up a disciplinary panel to investigate these officers and others nationwide.

“Most police officers are corrupt because their welfare is nothing to write home about. Tunji should better their welfare, he should display professionalism in all his undertakings and it is also good to decentralise the police force,” he stated.

Uzor also lamented that with the promotion of Tunji Disu from Assistant Inspector General, AIG, to Inspector General, IGP that most senior police officers will go on forceful retirement and suggested having IGP to come from most senior DIGs.

Contributing, an Abuja based activist, Chukwuma Nwangwu, advised the new IGP to see his elevation as meritorious and more service to the nation stating that his predecessor,  Kayode Egbetokun, did his best only that he was not able to checkmate the alleged human rights abuses by the Special Investigation Unit, SIU, Abuja, which he established.

His words, I commend President Bola Tinubu for the sack of Egbetokun because it is long overdue and the subsequent replacement by Tunde Disu. Egbetokun played his role well only that he did not monitor the constant human rights abuses going on at SIU, Force headquarters Abuja, which he set up or that he kept deaf ears to the atrocities being committed by the present SIU personnel.

“I urge you to immediately stop the alleged illegal activities of the office of SIU led by Moses Jolugbo, by reshuffling the office and also sack the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Asokoro Police station, Mike Eguaboi, who collaborates with Moses to detain suspects beyond what the constitution stipulates.

“These two offices drag and are still dragging the image of the Nigerian Police Force to the mud. The Administrative officer, at SIU, Shulamite Ilodigwe and Abiodun Fassasi, should be investigated over  alleged human rights abuses and extortion of suspects.

“The DPO of Asokoro according to the allegation collaborates with the SIU Commander in the said abuse of office by illegal detention of suspects without being taken to court as at and when due in accordance with the law, but prolong their detention for financial benefit.

“We gathered that some suspects spend four to six months and sometimes up to one year without being charged to court and we view it that these officers can not ridicule your career which you, new IGP, Disu, built over the years as we hope you will leave a legacy worthy of emulation.

“I plead that now that you have come on board as new IGP to listen to the voice of those being humiliated at SIU and Asokoro police station by setting up an investigation panel to look into the alleged human rights abuses and extortion as we gather that SIU rakes in over #4million daily, of which human rights groups are investigating the allegation.

“At SIU they usurp the functions of court by demanding that level 14 to 16 civil servants should be those that will take suspects on bail with huge sum of money and also at SIU land issues are treated and when you condemn these atrocities they will tell you that IGP is aware.

“”Presently there is this case of murder in Portharcourt of which one Abiodun  Nwapani has been detained for about three months now when the court has granted him bail on alibi as he was not in Portharcourt when the incident happened.

“Again, new IGP, Disu, I advise  you should work with Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to help  curtail violent crimes that include kidnapping, terrorism among others that are currently being experienced in Nigeria and distance yourself from former IGPs who may use you against perceived enemies.

“The Pioneer Commander of SIU, a Calabar man, (AC), now retired, never allowed suspects to be detained above 48 hours unless in a murder case, but this Moses and DPO Asokoro, they detain suspects for six months to one year and I am sure IGP is not aware of what they do. The DPO will tell you IGP is his brother.

“Other police stations and offices in Abuja do not extort, prolong detention, intimidate suspects except these two, new IGP kindly reshuffle and investigate them to serve as relief to those they have pained,” he pleaded .