Commendation as policemen are sacked for extrajudicial killing

Juliana Francis

The Nigeria Police Force has been commended for dismissing a crack team of policemen, who tortured Chima Ikwunador to death in December 2019 and inflicted injuries on four others during torture in Rivers State.

According to a statement from the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Nnamdi Omoni, the Officers from the Eagle Crack Squad, who allegedly tortured late Ikwunador to death in December 2019 and unlawfully inflicted various degrees of injuries on, Ifeanyi Onyekwere, Ogbonna Victor, Ifeanyi Osuji  and Osaze Friday have been dismissed by the Rivers State Police Command, to be charged to court for conspiracy and murder, among other charges.

Omoni further stated that, “the officers had gone through the processes of Orderly Room Trials, de-kitted and dismissed from the Force.”

It will be recalled that in December 2019, Ikwunador, a mechanic was arrested and detained, along with four others by Policemen in Rivers State.

Ikwunador and four others, who were his apprentices, were arrested for driving against traffic and tortured at Mile 1 Police Station. The policemen took N93,000 found on Ikwunador and then further alleged him of car theft.

The Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, while reacting to the action of the Force in sacking the killer squad, said it was a welcome development, even though it was long overdue.

He added: “It is a step in the right direction towards ensuring accountability for egregious human rights violations especially, torture and extrajudicial killing.”

RULAAC commended the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph G. Mukan for fulfilling his commitment, on assumption of duty in the State, which was to address all cases of infractions and unprofessional conduct of the officers and men of the command, and to offer quality policing services to the state.

Nwanguma further stated: “RULAAC is however curious to know why, in spite of the enactment of the Anti-torture Act in 2017, which provides a robust legal framework for the prosecution of crimes of torture by police officers, police authorities are yet to charge police officers responsible for torture, under that comprehensive Act. This may be an indication, either of ignorance of the Act or reluctance to implement the Act. Whatever the reason maybe, RULAAC is of the strong view that it will be more appropriate if the officers are charged under the Anti-torture Act in addition to other relevant laws to demonstrate commitment to implementing the Act and also deter other police officers who still engage in torture or want to engage in acts of torture. The Anti-torture Act provides an improved and more comprehensive legal framework to prosecute and punish acts of torture which remain widespread and protected by impunity.”