Joy Anyim
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has commended the Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu, on the prompt arrest of the four police officers, responsible for the shooting of two unarmed suspects to death.
The centre’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma had in a press statement issued on Wednesday condemned the callous act.
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According to Nwanguma, the extra judicial killing by the police officers runs contrary to the Nigeria Police Force’s(NPF) professional standards and rules of engagement.
He said “ RULAAC commends the Lagos State Police Command under CP Zubairu Muazu, for condemning and unequivocally dissociating the police from the unlawful action of four police officers who extra-judicially executed two armed robbery suspects after they had successfully arrested and taken them into custody.
“RULAAC also commends the CP for ordering the promptl arrest and subjection of the officers to internal disciplinary processes as prelude to charging them to court for prosecution for murder.
“The centre was saddened by the unwarranted and unjustifiable killing of two of four criminal suspects by four police officers attached to Iba Division Patrol on August 19, 2019. The police officers who responded to a distress call, successfully arrested and disarmed two of the armed robbery suspects while the other two escaped.
“However the police officers went ahead to take laws into their hands by summarily executing the arrested suspects. By summarily executing the arrested suspects, the officers went beyond their duties and powers as police officers. They committed murder.
“As correctly stated by the Lagos State Command via a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, the action of the police officers runs contrary to the NPF’s professional standards and rules of engagement. It also has a tendency to deplete eroding public support and confidence in the police as well as roll back public sympathy for the police after some of their personnel were given similar unlawful and brutal treatment by army officers.”
RULAAC further urged the Lagos State Command to remain steadfast in its exemplary disposition to discouraging, punishing and checking abuse of Police powers, misuse of firearms and extra judicial killings by officers in the command.
“The prompt steps taken by the CP Lagos in this case, as in previous cases, should send a clear message to police officers that abuse of humans rights will not and cannot be condoned or tolerated in a democratic dispensation and that the duties of the police are to serve and protect, not to kill citizens or abuse their rights, ” he said.
Nwanguma maintained that RULAAC will continue to focus attention on cases such as this to ensure that when charged to court, the perpetrators are prosecuted and handed appropriate punishments as prescribed by law.
In addition to strengthening accountability processes, RULAAC director said the centre will continue to advocate other measures, including reform of police recruitment procedures, training and reorientation, provision of modern policing equipment and improved welfare as some of the measures to address police resort to brutality and unprofessional conduct.
