Newswatch (Lagos)
Maureen Chigbo
28 April 2003
Nigeria police earns local and international condemnation for human rights abuses and indiscriminate killings of innocent persons
No one expected outright condemnation of the Nigeria police from the United States of America over human rights abuses. Not with repeated claims by Tafa Balogun, inspector-general of police, that the police had improved steadily in combating crimes in the society and enhanced the safety of lives and property. Even though some of the issues raised in the U.S. Department of State "Country reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002," were cases well- known, the verdict came as sad commentary on these claims to success by Balogun.
The cases ranging from forceful arrests, illegal detention, and torture to extra- judicial killings of innocent citizens and members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, were chronicled in the report released March 31. "The government's human rights record remained poor; although there were improvements in several areas, serious problems remained. The Nigeria police, military and security forces committed extra-judicial killings and used excessive force to apprehend criminal suspects and to quell several incidents of ethno-religious violence," said the US State Department report.
A few days before and after the report came out, the police committed more outrageous acts in Okigwe and Kano , respectively, thus given credence to the report.
Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State has not known peace since the Saturday, March 29, police killing of 50 members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB. The community has been deserted as inhabitants have fled for safety. There was still a heavy presence of armed policemen in the area as at press time.
Kenneth Anyanwu, MASSOB director of information, told Newswatch that MASSOB was on its way to a solidarity rally in support of American war against terrorism in Iraq when a combined team of the armed mobile policemen laid ambush and opened fire on them. Anyanwu accused Governor Achike Udenwa of Imo State of being behind the killing of MASSOB members. He said Ralph Uwazuruike, MASSOB leader, was arrested and detained at the Imo State police headquarters near Government House, Owerri, before the Presidency ordered his transfer to Force Headquarters, Abuja , on Monday, March 31. The police last week ordered his release.
Uchenna Nmahu, MASSOB's provincial secretary, Onitsha, told Newswatch, that their members had gathered in Okigwe, the country home of Uwazuruike, Friday evening, March 28, for an all-night vigil to usher in their yearly three-day rally which was also to feature a solidarity rally in support of American war against terrorism. Nmahu said the rally was to be held in 10 states - Imo, Abia, Enugu , Anambra, Delta, Cross River ,Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Bayelsa states.
Newswatch learnt MASSOB members were all dressed in the defunct Biafra military uniform and were in a convoy of more than 30 vehicles led by Uwazuruike from Okigwe to Owerri when the incident happened in Umulolo, one kilometre from Okigwe. The policemen had laid ambush there and ordered the convoy to stop. While the members were coming out of the vehicle, the police threw tear gas at them thus, causing confusion during which they opened fire on them. Another account said that the convoy refused to stop hence the police fired at them.
Newswatch learnt the police took some of the dead bodies to unknown destinations. MASSOB members carried those wounded to rural areas for treatment. It was gathered that the police also monitored hospitals in the South-East to arrest any doctor who treated MASSOB members.
A police source said the Imo State Government through the police command, had earlier warned proprietors of clinics and hospitals in Imo and Abia states not to treat youths with gun wounds. It was gathered that the government went ahead to send security agents to keep watch on private doctors and to arrest any one who disobeyed the order. This development had resulted in more casualties on the side of MASSOB members.
But Hezekiah Dimka, the newly-appointed police commissioner in Imo State denied the allegations. According to him "the confrontation that claimed some lives was avoidable, if the MASSOB members had heeded several appeals from the police to dismantle the roadblock mounted with about 30 buses and 2,000 street urchins." He said the attitude of MASSOB leaders on the day of the incident was not only provocative but most irresponsible (as their planned rally coincided with) Udenwa's political rally in Okigwe that same day.
Benneth Oghomone, the outgoing police commissioner of the state, preparing to proceed on transfer to Abuja , admitted that about seven members died in the clash. He said MASSOB members were trying to disarm the policemen. According to him: "Will police stand and wait for you to disarm them? Some people lost their lives. The figure could be as high as five or seven but initially they said it is 11. The people they thought were dead are no more dead. You see in a situation like this you can't get accurate figures," he said. Newswatch learnt that only seven bodies were deposited in the Federal Medical Centre Mortuary, Owerri and were yet to be collected by relations.
An official of the Imo State Government told Newswatch in Okigwe, April 6, that Udenwa did not order police to kill MASSOB members. The official who wanted his identity protected described MASSOB members as confusionists, adding, this period was not the right time for MASSOB rally in the East.
The MASSOB experience is nothing compared to the youths of Kadawa village in Debeji Local Government Area of Kano State. The youths decided to stage a "peaceful demonstration", to protest the purported escape of Ibrahim Tudun Wada, a notorious armed robbery suspect from police custody March 31. Little did they know what unforgettable and regrettable memories their action would bring to the entire community as policemen razed 197 houses, farm produce and properties worth millions of naira. Two persons lost their lives in the retaliatory attack by the police, which lost Kadawa police post to the rampaging youths.
Bala Isa, Dagancin Kadawa, told Newswatch last week that the entire community had experienced persistent harassment from armed robbers. Isa noted with sadness that Abdullahi Haladi, the vigilante chairman of the community, was shot dead by armed robbers during one of their operations March 21. This, he said, led to the resolve of four communities in the local government to work with the police to fish out the robbers. This, the village head told Newswatch, yielded result March 30, when Ibrahim and four other members of his gang where arrested through a tip-off at Kwanan Gafan Tomatoes market. All the suspects were kept in police custody at Kadawa police post. The villagers jubilated over the arrest of Ibrahim and his cohorts.
But to the surprise of Isa and his people, the police came to the village to report that Ibrahim had escaped March 31, barely 24 hours after his arrest. This angered the youths of the village who immediately came together and marched to the police post located two kilometres from the village to demand for an explanation over what the village head called "negligence of duty and collaboration with criminals." When the police sighted the angry youths, they shot several canisters of tear-gas to disperse the youths. This further infuriated the youths who disarmed the police and set the station ablaze.
The police immediately called for re-enforcement from the state police headquarters. Newswatch learnt that lorry loads of anti-riot mobile squad were drafted to the village. The police beat, maimed and burnt down houses in the village. An eyewitness told Newswatch that apart from the loss of farm produce stored in most burnt houses, an elderly woman and a little girl died in the inferno. Most men in the village fled into their distant farms while only women and children were left to face the music. The police were, however, said to have given the fleeing villagers a hot chase and arrested 81 people who have been released on the intervention of Ado Bayero, the emir of Kano , who swiftly stepped into the matter and called the police to order.
When Newswatch visited Kadawa last week it was a tale of woes and regrets as almost all the villagers lost one thing or the other in the crises. One of such person was Ma'ro Kadawa, a notable successful farmer in the village. He told Newswatch that the robbers had earlier robbed him of his life savings during their last operation in the village, and the police raid, which according to him was totally un-called for, led to his loss of all his farm produce including wheat, dried pepper, onions and garlic stored in a 10-room bungalow which was completely razed. Newswatch met him sitting alone on a praying mat, counting his huge loss. As at last week, most of the villagers had started rebuilding their burnt houses. The remains of burnt household materials and beds littered the entire village. In front of the village head's house was a car allegedly burnt by the police.
Some relief materials sent in by the state government had arrived the village when Newswatch visited the scene of the incident last week. Bags of rice, maize, beans and other items like sleeping mats and clothes were being distributed at the palace of the village head. Although, the fleeing villagers were back home, most of them did not have a place to lay their heads. While some of the victims now squat with their relatives, others simply sleep in the un-affected parts of their burnt homes.
Nuraini Sholabi, deputy police commissioner of Kano State described the incident as rather unfortunate. He said the youths took the laws into their hands by burning down a police post. He told Newswatch that the police did not burn down any house in Kadawa, arguing that the fire incident could have occurred while the villagers attempted to flee from the police. "The police did not set any house ablaze neither did we kill anybody," he said. When Newswatch confronted him with photographs of dead victims, Sholabi simply retorted: "that is your own finding and the camera is yours too." He, however, noted that the police lost arms and ammunition, some money, which was meant for staff salaries, and all exhibits including a car.
He said about eight policemen were injured and were still receiving treatment in various hospitals. According to him the situation has been brought under control.
Meanwhile, the state government has expressed concern over the incident. Ibrahim Gwagwarwa, director of press and public relations, to the governor of Kano State , told Newswatch that the state government would take steps to reduce the suffering of the people there. He said the state government would ensure that victims were properly rehabilitated.
Newswatch investigation across the country showed the police has continued to infringe on people's rights. Since the advent of Operation Fire for Fire, a police outfit for combating crime, most parts of the country have not known peace. Policemen attached to the unit appear to have abandoned the government mission statement to protect lives and properties. Instead, they now use the outfit as an instrument of terrorism, extortion of money from motorists and killing of innocent people in the society. Some policemen attached to Operation Fire for Fire operate under the influence of alcohol daily and shoot indiscriminately, sending several people to their early grave. Some victims who even petitioned inspector- general of police have not received any response till date.
For instance, in Rivers State on February 3, Vincent Acheta, a police officer, attached to Operation Fire for Fire at the Bori Police Station in the state shot dead two indigenes of Kaa Community in Khana Local Government Area of the state. Having discovered that the men were dead, Acheta was provided an escape route by the Rivers State Police Command. Till date, Acheta has not appeared. He was later alleged to be under the influence of alcohol.
Ireju Barasua, the Rivers State police public relations officer, PPRO gave the names of the victims as Friday Borghara, a football coach and Joseph Didinee. The PPRO told Newswatch that police had intensified efforts to arrest the culprits. However, the corpses of the victims were still in the Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt . Newswatch learnt about three petitions from the Human Rights Community in the state were sent to the inspector-general of police to intervene but there has been no response.
Geoffrey Pie Noah, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, representing the area gave Newswatch a detailed account of how police shot dead the two persons. According to him, "the police officer in Operation Fire for Fire station wagon went for an arrest in the community and met one of his friends who took him to the beer parlour for entertainment. The officer, on his way back, saw a lady and spoke to her but was angered that the lady failed to respond positively to his request.
Pie Noah said unknown to the officer, the lady's husband was right at the woman's back. He said the husband asked the police officer whether he has come to arrest or to look for women? The lawmaker said the policeman beat the husband to a state of coma while he opened fire on villagers, who came to rescue the man, thereby killing two before he escaped.
Yorbagara Neesi, the traditional ruler of Kaa community accused the police of covering up their men once they were involved in the killing of innocent citizens.
Also, in July last year, the same government security outfit killed one Friday Nwidoo, a contract staff with Shell for failing to bribe them. Nwidoo hails from Baen in Khana Council of the state.
In Imo State the story is the same. Between last year and March this year, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State has recorded the highest killing by the outfit. About 30 members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB were killed last year by Operation Fire for Fire.
The police claimed to have acted on the instruction of Ignatius Umunna, Imo State secretary to the government. Umunna allegedly wrote the former police commissioner to clamp down on all MASSOB members. The letter, which was made available to Newswatch, caused a lot of controversy between the police and state government in Owerri. However, the Operation Fire for Fire defended the killing last year. According to them, it was based on the instruction from the government.
Available records revealed that about four drivers were also killed in Imo State last year for failing to offer bribe to the police at checkpoints along Port Harcourt/Owerri and Okigwe - Owerri roads in Imo State .
Bayelsa State also recorded similar killings by members of Operation Fire for Fire along Mbiama - Yenogoa Road last year. Newswatch learnt that the policemen opened fire on a commercial vehicle moving from Port Harcourt into Yenogoa, the State capital and killed two.
Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Enugu states have the same story. The Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, had earlier raised alarm over the non-caring attitude of Operation Fire for Fire in the East. Onyebuchi Madubuike, Imo State Chapter chairman of CLO, called on the government to ensure that any police officer involved in indiscriminate shooting should face the law.
These ugly developments in the police are happening barely a year and one month after Balogun, inherited a police whose morale and public image was at the lowest ebb. Balogun came after the police, for the first time in the history of the country, embarked on strike action, which led to the sack of 153 of them.
Balogun's immediate task was to re-build the police and save the nation from the brink of a national security crisis where armed robbers ruled the streets and terrorised both the civilians and the police in particular as many policemen were killed by hoodlums.
In his zeal, Balogun urged the police to mete out "fire for fire", a statement that was interpreted to mean the police should shoot robbers at sight. In an exclusive interview with Newswatch last year, Balogun acknowledged that the crime wave as at the time he came to office was so disturbing that fear was put in the minds of the people who lived in different parts of Nigeria. To put a stop to that, Balogun said there was need to be "very fast and decisive." This, he said, meant a situation where his men would be reluctant to use weapons in a way that would place them at the mercy of assassins and robbers "And the code name I gave the operation is Fire for Fire"and it does not suggest shoot-at-sight. It merely depicts promptness and decisiveness in responding to the phenomenon of armed robbers," he said.
Despite Balogun's explanation, the US State Department report said: "The federal anti-crime task force, also known as Operation Fire for Fire, was among the most frequent human rights offenders." It said Operation Fire for Fire was established in response to widespread public calls for the government and police to address violent crime more vigorously. However, police and anti-crime task force personnel committed extra-judicial killings in the apprehension and detention of suspected criminals. "Police were instructed to use deadly force to subdue violent criminals," the report said. The report quoted Balogun as saying that more than 200 criminals were killed by police and more than 800 arrested. Balogun also admitted that 41 civilians were killed either accidentally by police or by the criminals; 80 civilians were injured.
It said complaints have come from all quarters that Operation Fire for Fire had given largely untrained police force broad latitude in using deadly force. In most cases, police officers were not held accountable for excessive or deadly force or the deaths of persons in custody. They operated with impunity in the apprehension, illegal detention, and sometimes execution of criminal suspects.
Reported by Psaro Yornamne and Felix Umoru.
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