There has been incessant outcry by Nigerians against brutality from men of the security forces. A few of those cases, which must be interrogated if the nation must move forward, are presented below.
Death in NSCDC custody: Human Rights Lawyer, Ogele drags NSCDC to court
Human rights lawyer, Morakinyo Ogele, has dragged Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to court over the death of a suspect, Razak Ahmed, in the custody of the Ondo State Command of the corps.Ahmed was arrested over allegation of having carnal knowledge of his eight-year-old daughter. He died in their custody three days after his arrest.
Controversies trailed his death as the command insisted, he committed suicide but his family alleged that he was tortured to death by officers of the command while trying to extract confessional statements from him.
The human rights lawyer, who was not satisfied with the command’s explanation, approached the state high court in Akure to seek justice for the deceased and his family. Ogele is seeking the court’s order directing NSCDC to conduct investigation in its Ondo State command to identify officers involved in the arrest, detention and alleged torturing of the deceased.
Ogele is also seeking an order directing the Corps to hand over the officers to the police for proper investigation and prosecution of the culprits. He is equally asking “the court to order NSCDC to pay a sum of N500 million as damages to the family of Ahmed.”
The legal practitioner also wanted “the court to direct the security agency to subject all its officers to psychiatric test and stop them from torturing their suspects in order to obtain confessional statements. In a 33-paragraph-affidavit, Ogele said he initiated the suit on behalf of the family of the deceased and in the public interest.
According to reports, the family members of the deceased have been calling on human rights organisations to help them get justice. “This is because NSCDC is trying to cover up this extra judicial killing.” They felt unconcerned about the gruesome act against the family of the deceased. The spokesman of NSCDC declared that “the man committed suicide in their custody without giving evidence and he thinks NSCDC is a security agency established to protect lives and properties in Nigeria. Its officers are not expected to take any life.”
Police killing: Mother of 20-year-old girl killed by policemen in Ajegunle demands justice
Mother of 20-year-old Ada Ifeanyi shot dead by Police men in Ajegunle, Lagos, on Saturday April 13, has cried out for justice.Mercy John, who could not hold back her tears, said she saw her daughter last week and she promised to celebrate the Easter with her. She wondered what her daughter, who she described as quiet and obedient, could have done to warrant such a brutal attack from the police.
The grieving mum said, “I spoke with her on Friday afternoon and she promised to come see me next week so we could celebrate Easter together. She is a daughter I don’t want to miss in life. She had a loving heart, she was friendly and didn’t like trouble. When they called me around 7am that my daughter had been shot by the Police, I rushed down there and saw my child lying dead. A girl of just 20 years died like a chicken! What did they find on her that made them fire her? If they had shot the tyre, at least the car would stop. Is that what the government want for us? I want justice for my child! I wish she could live again for me, but it’s impossible! She’s gone forever!” the bereaved mother wailed as she broke down in tears.
Ada was returning from a Night club with her boyfriend, Emmanuel, on Saturday morning when they were accosted by Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) officers. Worried that they could be kidnappers as they weren’t wearing uniforms, Emmanuel who was driving, continued and refused to stop. The policemen trailed them to Ada’s home where they opened fire on them as soon as Emmanuel parked his car. Five policemen have been arrested over the incident while one of them has been declared wanted.
