By Alltimepost.com
Benin City, Nigeria – Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, (ANEEJ) has condemned in strong terms the recent alleged brutal treatment meted out to a commercial bus driver in Benin City by men of the Nigerian Police Force.
This latest in the series of alleged police brutality in the heartbeat of the nation happened on Wednesday, when the police arrested and allegedly brutalized the driver for an alleged possession of hemp (marijuana) by his passenger who reportedly fled the scene, following stop and search by the police.
ANEEJ’s condemnation is coming a few days after the same Edo State Police Command was accused of harassment and intimidation of Edo people by a league of human rights organizations in the state that reacted vehemently to the arrest of human rights activist, Marxist Kola Edophayi on Tuesday.
ANEEJ’s Executive Director, Rev David Ugolor, on Thursday called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to wade into these cases with a view to bringing the “errant police officers” to book.
The incident involving the driver, he noted, is one case among many other issues of harassment and brutalization of innocent citizens by the men of the Nigerian Police Force, across the country.
He warned that these cases of intimidation, arrests and extortion of money from innocent Nigerians by the Nigerian police is a serious affront to the rule of law and a gross violation of the fundamental rights of individuals and groups.
“ANEEJ is worried that these rampant cases violate human rights and threaten the very core of our existence as a people. The NPF, said to be a friend of the people, should understand that their primary aim is to protect its citizens and not to molest them, ”Ugolor said.
According to him, instances of high-handedness by the police against the voice of civilians to freedom of speech and association are now becoming a trend in Benin City, citing the recent incident of arrest of the civil society activist, Kola Edopkayi, on trumped up charges of treason and incitement.
“The said individual is a seasoned and committed advocate of social justice and citizen empowerment and who has respect for constituted authority,” he noted.
Rev Ugolor went further and referred to another instance at the Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, where the police were alleged to have invaded the institution and harassed very senior members of the academic community.
“In the light of this, ANEEJ therefore calls on the IGP to as a matter of urgency, order the release of the said activist unconditionally and launch a high-powered investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest.”
“We deplore the erection of illegal road blocks being used to extort monies from Edo citizens who struggle to eke a living in these very tough times of recession.
“Let the IGP use his good office to immediately carry out a massive programme of investigation on the rank and file of the police in Edo State, to sweep the NPF in Edo state of the bad eggs in the system who are giving the police a bad name,” Ugolor stressed.
ANEEJ, he continued believes that the federal government has put in a lot of effort in combating corruption in Nigeria, adding: “this effort has yielded much success and must be supported by well-meaning Nigerians for the gains to be consolidated.”
According to him, what the police are doing to Edo citizens is capable of reversing these successes and pitch the people against the government.
“This reckless display of brutality by the police in Edo state has no place in the 21st Century, especially since Nigeria is run on the basis of the rule of law and respect for the citizenry.”
It is fundamental to contest the nature of this inhumane jungle justice being carried out against innocent civilians by the Police department.
The affixed photograph of the poor Civilian handcuffed to the Mini-Truck appears to be psychologically detrimental to the sight of anyone with commonsense for justice and human rights violation.