Nigeria: Abia, Happy-Trigger Cops And Extra-Judicial Killings

29 August 2006
column

Lagos — The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero upon assumption of office promised that his force would 'serve and protect with integrity', and thus heightened the expectations of Nigerians. Perhaps his new appointment (as at then) saved his assurances from passing as another administrative platitude. Another element that made his assertion hope-inducing was that he was running uphill to rescue the image of an institution whose lies and cover-ups for extra judicial killings had been laid too bare for a refutal, and so every Nigerian counted on the honour of an institution that seemed to be begging for another chance to prove its respect for due process. His empanelment of an earlier police inquiry into the Apo 6 killings, which was replaced by the Justice Goodluck Commission of enquiry, further heightened the expectations of not a few Nigerians.

The findings of the Justice Goodluck Commission on the Apo Killings; the consequent arraignment of policemen believed to be responsible for the killings before a Federal High Court; and announcement of compensation to be paid to deceased's relatives appeared to raise hopes of government commitment to combat extra judicial killings.

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