Buhari Orders Prosecution Of Brutal Police Personnel

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to bring to justice brutal personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, as part of measures to assuage the feelings of Nigerians who have embarked on nationwide EndSARS protests.

The president also order the IGP to conclusively address the concerns of Nigerians regarding the excesses of men and officers of the Nigeria Police.

The President gave the marching order following his briefing by the inspector general of police on the #EndSARS protests.

“I met again with the IGP tonight. Our determination to reform the police should never be in doubt. I am being briefed regularly on the reform efforts ongoing to end police brutality and unethical conduct, and ensure that the Police are fully accountable to the people.

“The IG already has my firm instructions to conclusively address the concerns of Nigerians regarding these excesses, & ensure erring personnel are brought to justice.

“I appeal for patience & calm, even as Nigerians freely exercise their right to peacefully make their views known,” the president stated via a tweet on his verified twitter handle

He, however, admitted that the vast majority of men and women of the Nigeria Police Force are patriotic and committed to protecting the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians.

He assured that his administration will continue to support them to do their job.

A Presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, had earlier on Friday indicated that President Buhari would take action on SARS protests following a meeting on Thursday night with the president.

Ahmad tweeted, “Good people of Nigeria have every right to protest the #PoliceBrutality or anything they see is not going on well.

“The President was briefed yesterday by the IG of Police, I am very sure action will be taken and in the best interest of Nigerians. #EndSARSProtests,” he tweeted.

InsideBusiness recalls that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had on October 4 expressed anger at the violation of Nigerians’ rights by the Police.

He declared that the Federal Government would investigate, prosecute and expose men and officers of the Nigeria Police who violated and harassed innocent Nigerians.

Osinbajo made this known when approached by State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa on his way out of his residence.

The vice president said “I am very concerned, in fact, very angry about what I see, happening to young men and women who are arrested, in some cases maimed or killed by men of the police force.”

When asked for his reaction to the upsurge in the harassment of the people by FSARS, Osinbajo said President Muhammadu Buhari and himself had discussed the matter on a number of occasions, adding that the President was displeased about such reports and his resolve to ensure reforms.

He noted that such violations were unacceptable from individuals who are meant to protect Nigerians.

He said, “The arrest, maiming or killing of young people or anyone at all, is completely wrong. It is unlawful and illegal, and anyone involved in this act ought to be investigated and prosecuted.”

“Today, I had a meeting with the Inspector General of Police, we reviewed several of these issues. The President and I have had discussions on this, he is very concerned about it. He wants to see a reform.

“You are probably aware that the IGP has issued a statement looking at all these issues, in particular, the warning against the use of these tactical units such as SARS for purposes of doing anything other than anti-robbery.

“For example, and I think in his statement, he specifically said that you cannot have a situation where SARS says, they are investigating Cybercrime by arresting young men and women carrying their laptops and phones.

“Cybercrime is an electronic crime. I don’t see how you can investigate that by seizing people’s phones in a taxi or in their cars.

“It is very obvious that this is a major concern, a few bad eggs in the police force are causing all of these problems because it is all over the place, in different states. There is a need to take serious action.”

While urging all hands be on deck to effect reforms in the Nigeria Police, Prof. Osinbajo said “I think that we all have to work together to ensure that the police and law enforcement agents, do what their duty is and their duty is to protect us, protect our society and livelihoods and homes.”

He added, “By the way, many of them are doing their duties excellently well, but there are some of them who are engaged in these activities. So, we must see this as something we all must work together to achieve, as individuals, to bring to the attention of the police and government, where there have been violations.

“And on the part of government and the police: to ensure that every one of those allegations is properly investigated and those found responsible are prosecuted and publicized so that people know that prosecution has taken place and this is the consequence.

“I am very confident that we will have a reformed police force and that process has already begun.”

Thousands of Nigerians are protesting against police brutality in the country.

Apart from Lagos, protests are taking place across the country, including in the capital, Abuja and Osun, Delta, Edo States.

The movement initially targeted the federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, widely accused of unlawful arrests, torture, and murder, but has since broadened to include all police forces.

While the SARS unit was suspended on Sunday, groups such as Amnesty International said the government had not gone far enough, pointing to previous unsuccessful attempts to ban the force.

Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has wielded the big stick on some erring senior police officers.

The Commission approved the dismissal of 10 senior police officers and demotion of eight others over misconduct.

The dismissed senior officers are: one Assistant Commissioner of Police, two Superintendents of Police, three Deputy Superintendents of Police and four Assistant Superintendents of Police.

Head of Press and Public Relations of the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, who made this known in a statement on Friday, said the decision was reached at the 9th Plenary Meeting of the commission held in September.

The commission, Ani said, also approved punishment or severe reprimand for eight officers, reprimand for 10 and letter of warning to three other officers.

He, however, noted that another three officers were exonerated.

The PSC spokesman said 43 cases of misconduct were treated at the meeting.

He said the commission also directed the prosecution of six of the officers: one ACP, one SP, two DSPs and two ASPs.

Ani said: “The dismissed ACP, Magaji Doko was found to have engaged in acts unbecoming of a public officer, disobedience to lawful order, discreditable conduct, unlawful use of authority and scandalous conduct.

“One of the dismissed SPs, Ogedengbe Abraham was found guilty of negligence/loss of government property; disobedience to lawful order and act unbecoming of a public officer.

“The other dismissed SP, Mallam Taluwai was found guilty of discreditable conduct and act unbecoming of a public officer.”

According to Ani, the three dismissed DSPs are Okunkonin Daniel, Abisoro Irene and Theresa Nuhu, while the ASPs are Sanusi Rasaki, Uwadala Oba, Ferdinand Idoko and Igolor Ogheneruona.