Existence of vigilante groups, signs of Police failure, irrelevance in Nigeria – Human Rights Activist

A Human Rights Activist and former Senatorial Candidate for Anambra South Senatorial District, Barr. Chukwudi Ezeobika has maintained that the existence of vigilante groups across the federation as an alternative in tackling insecurity was an affirmation of state failure and Ineptitude.

He said the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun lacked control of his men thereby making police irrelevant and Ineffective of the Nigeria Police Force, a development that gave credence to existence of vigilante groups across the country.

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The former National Legal Adviser, Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IPAC, reacting to the recent assault and barbaric attacks on the innocent NYSC members, especially Miss Jennifer Edema Elohor and her colleagues in Anambra State, said, its condemnable and unacceptable.

He said the act has clearly demonstrated and viciously brought to light, the intolerable level of decadence, lack of control, and ineptitude on the part of the Nigeria Police Force in managing the activities and conduct of vigilante groups not only in Anambra State but across the States of the Federation.

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The lawyer said the vigilante has been an oppressive tool in the hands of State Governors and an avenue for proliferation of arms, particularly small arms and light weapons (SALW), to individuals or groups not authorized to possess them, the tolerance, acceptance and retention of vigilante groups by the Nigerian State portend a grave danger to the Nation’s nascent democracy hence, my demand for their immediate and outright dissolution and disbandment.

According to him, the existence of vigilante groups posed another challenge to the citizens given their frequent harassment, intimidation, assault and illegal detentions of Nigerian citizens across the States of the Federation, occasioned by their deplorable levels of training, education and professionalism,.

He said: “It call to question the legality of such groups under our laws and the ability of the Nigerian Police to regulate them and protect the rights of citizens which are provided for, guaranteed and preserved under our laws whilst living in any part of the country.

“This perhaps remains the reason why the Constitution, under section 214, prohibits the establishment of any other force for the Federation or any part thereof and clearly defines under Section 215, the appointment and roles of officers of the Force.

“The current use of vigilante groups by the Governor of Anambra State and many others in the enforcement of tax laws, debt collections, modes of dressing especially by women, paint a very dark picture of a person who has chaired an institution of government at the federal level.

“The continued existence of vigilante groups across the Federation, which remain a clear call to anarchy, clearly depicts Nigeria as a failed State as in Libya where paramilitary and local vigilante groups are left to enforce the law and further affirms the ineptitude, failure, and incapacity of the Inspector General of Police in the discharge of his duties under the law.

“The inglorious dereliction of duty by the Nigerian Police unwittingly relinquishing their responsibilities to private individuals, security guards, or vigilante groups which recently resulted in the assault on female passenger Comfort Emmanson on board Ibom Air in Lagos and the hostage incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by a musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, better known as K1 De Ultimate which put several lives at risk, is clear indictment on the Nigerian Police.

“Rights abuse in Nigeria has become an ugly phenomenon which negatively affects the already battered and deplorable image of the Nation both locally and in the very eyes of the international community.

“The inefficiency of the Nigeria Police Force has resulted in several avoidable deaths resulting from “jungle justices” across the federation including frequent kidnappings in homes and on the roads prompting citizens to ask if the Force is under siege.

“The judiciary must, as a matter of urgency, distance itself from the reckless and irresponsible conduct and activities of law enforcement agencies, which violate the fundamental rights of citizens as enshrined under sections 33, 34, 35, 36, 40 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) particularly section 34 which guarantees respect for the dignity of a person and prohibits any form of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment which has become the order of the day in Nigeria.

“The judiciary, by lending support to these violations, especially in reference to illegal detentions and remands of citizens whilst awaiting trial, unwittingly draws doubt on its integrity, neutrality, and independence.

“With the current unprecedented level of youth unemployment in Nigeria, it has become expedient and incumbent on the Inspector General of Police to ensure that adequate personnel are recruited into the Force to effectively carry out their duties of ensuring the safety and security of lives and property of citizens and that thousands of police personnel attached to private individuals, companies and organisations are aggressively reduced and or withdrawn to make policing adequate and visible not only at the airports but wherever their presence may be required.

“The daily extortion of citizens by law enforcement agents on numerous checkpoints illegally mounted on our highways under the watch of the current Inspector General of Police, has become a cancer viciously ravaging both the image and reputation of the Force.”

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