By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The police in Imo have been accused of engaging in extrajudicial executions, like bandits and other outlaws.
A non-governmental organization, Rule of Law, Accountability and Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), says on Christmas Day, a family received the bad news that one of it’s members died in police custody, just a few days after they were warned that the police have plans to ‘waste’ him.
RULAAC, in a petition to the Inspector General of Police, says cases of extrajudicial executions are rampant in Imo State.
The petition reads: “Extrajudicial Killings are still going on in Imo State Police Command in flagrant violation of the Police Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” RULAAC says, reminding the police that summary execution or extrajudicial killing is not one of their jobs.
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The petition, signed by RULAAC executive director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, recalls that on December 19, 2021, RULAAC received information concerning some suspects paraded and detained in Imo State for alleged involvement in kidnapping.
“The family of one of the paraded suspects complained about their efforts to locate their family member and the denial by the police of having him in their custody.
“Facts available to RULAAC are that security agencies in Imo State recently paraded some persons accused of kidnapping. From the video which went viral, the family members saw their son Ugochukwu Mba but documented in police custody as Devine Gabriel amongst those paraded.
“They briefed a law chambers in Owerri to help them find out what actually happened. Every effort by lawyers in the law chambers to locate the suspect in police custody with a view to interviewing him and finding out the extent of his involvement proved abortive as the police units, including the Anti-Kidnapping unit, denied having him in their custody.
“The law chambers eventually officially applied in writing to both the O/C Anti kidnapping which the officers refused to collect, and to the Imo State CP. All these were happening in the week before Christmas.
“While the efforts by the family through their lawyers to see their son was ongoing with the Police still refusing to acknowledge having him in their custody, a source within the Anti-Kidnapping unit of Imo State Police Command where the suspects were apparently held incommunicado called and advised the family to act fast because he overheard them saying they want to waste them. He advised them to do whatever they could do, and do it fast
“In the night of 25/12/21, the wife of the suspect called the lawyer, crying and informed him that she called her husband’s number 08035811346 and an officer who picked the call and identified himself as the IPO informed her that her husband, being the suspect, is dead. She asked how and when, but got no response. The officer switched off.
“Security agencies have hid under the pretext of fighting increasing insecurity in Imo State to carry out several extrajudicial executions with – in many instances- innocent persons killed and their dead bodies not seen by their family members
“It is unlawful and unconstitutional for the police to ‘waste’ arrested suspects without trial or conviction when they are presumed innocent until found guilty
“The duties and powers of the police as clearly stipulated in law include arrest, investigation and prosecution of crime suspects. They do not include summary execution or extrajudicial killing.
“RULAAC calls on the Inspector General of Police to order a prompt and impartial investigation into this case with a view to ensuring justice and ultimately, bringing an end to the rampant cases of extrajudicial killing of suspects in police custody instead of charging them to court to face trial.-
