Reps condemn Police extra-judicial killings, want SARS reviewed

Posted by admin Headlines, House, Legislature, Nigerian Police Saturday, March 7th, 2020

The House of Representatives at the plenary yesterday condemned the rising cases of extrajudicial killing, extortion, harassment, and intimidation by men of the Nigeria Police Force.
The House called for the review of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other tactical squads created by the NPF to reduce human rights abuses.
The call followed the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by Adewunmi Onanuga, titled, ‘Need to Re-Assess and Re-Evaluate the Tactical Squads of the Nigeria Police Force’.
Consequently, the House mandated the Committees on Police Affairs, Justice and Human Rights to investigate the recent action by SARS operatives that led to the death of a Remo Stars Football Club player, Tiamiyu Kazeem, in the Sagamu area of Ogun State and ensure that “justice is not only done but seen to be done.”
The House further called for “adequate compensation” of Kazeem’s family over his death, while observing a minute silence in honour of the deceased.
Also, the parliament urged the NPF to regularly orientate its officers and all tactical squads about their obligations and the rights of citizens as contained in the 1999 Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Furthermore, the lawmakers urged the Federal Government, through the National Human Rights Commission and alongside the House Committee on Police Affairs, to “pay unannounced regular oversight visits to all detention facilities to affirm that no human rights are being violated.”
In addition, the House urged the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to “re-examine the objectives behind the establishment of the tactical squads, return them to their original concept, streamline their scope of operations and restrict their interference with civil and financial crimes.”
The House further urged the police to establish a Special Bureau Unit that monitors officers of the force, including tactical squads, arrests, and charges erring officers for unprofessionalism.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to look into the recommendations by the Tony Ojukwu-led panel and in particular the recommendations to “strengthen the Information and Communication Technology of the NPF, establish state and local government area police, and to institutionalise a special investigation panel to annually hear and determine complaints of alleged human rights violations against the police.

-Tidewp_posts