Torture: Rights groups, lawyers want erring cops punished

Human rights groups and lawyers have called on the police authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest and torture of a geophyscist, Sunday Alabi, his brother, Tope, and brother-in-law, Wale, by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Lagos State Police Command.

They demanded that the policemen must be identified, investigated and made to face the full weight of the law for the act.

PUNCH Metro had reported on Wednesday that Alabi, who lives on Atunise Street, Isheri-Olowora area of the state, had on August 28 around 8pm sent the brother-in-law to buy food when he was arrested by the policemen raiding the area.

Alabi, Tope and his sister, Gbemi had rushed to the scene of the arrest in succession to identify Wale, but were also apprehended and were reportedly beaten up.

Gbemi was later released,while the three others were taken to the command headquarters where they were detained.

It was also reported that the victims were released in the evening of the following day, after the policemen allegedly collected N20,000 bribe.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro on Wednesday, the Coordinator, Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, Mr. Dandy Eze, described the act as “utter violation of the family’s freedom of speech and movement”, saying it was one of many ills perpetrated by unruly men of the force.

Eze said the resolve of the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, would be a mirage if the authorities failed to investigate the cops involved in the victims’ ordeal.

He said, “This is another instance of ethical breach that has been ingrained in Nigeria Police Force. The fact that the family members were not allowed to identify themselves speaks volume that their arrest was premeditated and unlawful. When does walking along one’s street at 8pm become an offence, when there is no curfew?

“The officers have shown that they lack discipline and must be thought a lesson by the authorities. If the new IGP wants Nigerians to take him serious, he should ensure that the act is thoroughly investigated and sanction the cops that perpetrated this dastardly act.”

The Coordinator, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, Mrs. Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, charged the victims to sue the police if their account of the incident was true.

She said, “The case should be investigated by the police authorities and appropriate disciplinary actions should be meted out to the officers if they are found culpable. The victims can also sue the police.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yusuf Ali, said the law demanded that the cops be prosecuted and punished accordingly, adding that it was time impunity was discouraged in the system.

“If the account of the family is true, the culprits must be made to face the full weight of the law. Impunity should no more be tolerated in our land,” Ali said.

A lawyer and activist, Oluyinka Oyeniji, said, “Sadly, those we have entrusted with the sanity and continuous peaceful existence in our country have little knowledge of the position of authority and responsibility. Until we start holding Commissioners of Police and the Inspector General of Police personally accountable for abuse of office by themselves and the force, justice would be too far reachable for the abused.”

The Lagos State Police spokesperson, DSP Joe Offor, told PUNCH Metro on Wednesday that the command was still making attempts to identify the formation to which the cops belonged.

He said, “We are still trying to trace the police formation that the policemen that conducted the raid belong to. Just give us some time.”

Source: Punch metro