The Force Criminal
Investigations Department
(FCID) of the Nigerian Police
force has arrested and
detained an Assistant
Superintendent of Police, ASP,
and six other Police officers
over allegations of extra-
judicial killings in separate
incidents that occurred in
Abuja and Benin, the Edo
State capital.
The first case resulting in the
arrest of the ASP (Mohammed
Yusuf) and two officers
(Corporal Agada Lawrence
and Corporal Agada Kenneth,
involved the extra judicial
killing of the son of the
former Chairman, Senate
Committee on Defence,
Senator Fidelis Okoro, in
Abuja last year.
According to Police sources,
Mr. John Chukwuemeka
Okoro (son of Senator Okoro)
and a friend of his (Sunday
Markus alias Sunday Black)
were at the Durumi district of
the Federal Capital Territory,
FCT, Abuja, on the 11th of
August 2014, when a Police
Patrol team received a
distress call from Mabuchi
District that that some
suspected robbers snatched a
Toyota car from the owner.
The Police from FCT SARS
consequently deployed and
carried out a trail of the
alleged robbers from Mabuchi
to Durumi. In the process of
trailing the car, the deceased,
John Chukwuemeka Okoro,
was arrested, while Sunday
Markus escaped. The leader of
the Police team then shot John
Okoro firstly on the leg and
secondly in the chest even
though he was harmless,
resulting in Okoro’s death.
Following a petition to the
IGP by Senator Okoro alleging
extra-judicial killing, Force
CID investigated the matter,
invited Sunday Markus for
interview and his statement.
The owner of the alleged
stolen car also made a
statement.
Though the Police officers
claimed there was a shootout
and in the cause of exchange
of fire, Okoro was shot and
killed, investigation however
indicted the Assistant
Superintendent of Police and
his 2 officers of extra-judicial
killing.
They are currently in
detention and police sources
told Sunday Vanguard that
they are awaiting ‘Internal
Disciplinary Action’ after
which they will be charged to
court.
On the extra-judicial killing in
Benin, Sunday Vanguard
gathered that it occurred at
Aduwawa area where one
Benson Obode was extra-
judicially gunned down.
According to sources, on the
19th of May 2015, four Police
officers, Corporal Adeleke
Adedeji, Corporal Abena John,
Corporal Henry Shobowale
and Corporal Oniyo Musa,
who were investigating a case
of armed robbery incident
that took place in Agege,
Lagos, went to Edo State as
part of the investigation.
One Alhaji Babangida Isa was
robbed of his Toyota car, GSM
handsets, and other valuables.
In the cause of arresting
Benson Obode (suspect), who
was mentioned by the
receiver of the stolen car, the
Police shot and killed him.
Following a public protest by
his family and some members
of his community in Benin, a
petition was written to the
IGP who ordered an
investigation. The FCID
consequently commenced a
thorough investigation which
led to the arrest of the
officers.
A senior Police officer who
confirmed the arrest of the
officers noted that henceforth
there will be no hiding place
for such officers who take
laws into their hands.
It will be recalled that the
Inspector General of Police,
Solomon Arase, warned
recently that the fForce under
his command would not
tolerate extra-judicial killings
while another mantra has
been that police officers
should respect the human
rights of suspects.
BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, ABUJA. http://www.thebiafratimes.co/2015/09/nigerian-police-extra-judicial-killings.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&m=1
