CDHR condemns killings in Lagos, Zamfara, Kaduna, others

El-rufai visits Kakangi community over attacks, IGP deploys task force to Katsina

The Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) yesterday charged the Nigeria Police to end extra-judicial and senseless killings of Nigerians.The group, headed by Malachy Ugwummadu, hinged its call on the recent killings of citizens in Lagos, Zamfara, Kaduna and Rivers states, among others.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Henry Peter Ekine, it decried the level to which some policemen have degenerated and derailed from acceptable standards of policing in the discharge of their duties.It threatened to mobilise Nigerians to prevail on Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, for effective policing in the country if the trend continues.

CDHR also decried the absence of citizens-friendly policing in Nigeria, stressing that the nation’s police have failed in their core role of securing lives and property, as well as protecting citizens’ fundamental rights, especially the right to life.

The group, therefore, enjoined the Police to stop the baseless killings of innocent Nigerians, almost on a daily basis in Lagos and other parts of the country.It lamented failure of the Police to secure and protect lives and property, as well as prevent the killings of citizens anywhere in Nigeria.

CDHR asserted that the killing of Kolade Johnson and Stephen Urueye clearly revealed the disturbing level of unprofessionalism in the Police and the officers’ insensitivity to the lives of citizens.Also, it demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari should immediately declare a state of emergency in Zamfara, Kaduna and Rivers states for the incessant killings, kidnapping and high level of insecurity in those states.

“The crisis in Zamfara has defied mild actions and seemed to have overwhelmed the Police, while the clashes, killings and kidnapping in Kaduna State have risen to disturbing levels.“Besides, the recurring kidnapping in different parts of Rivers State, especially the Emohua-Rumuji-Ndele axis, has assumed very disturbing dimensions and should immediately be brought to an end,” it stated.

Also, following a recent attack by bandits, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, visited Kakangi Community in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area where he condemned the incident. The governor, who was accompanied by some government officials and security chiefs, described the attack as inhuman and ungodly, assuring residents of government’s commitment to restore peace and security in the area and other troubled parts of the state.

Meanwhile, Adamu has ordered deployment of a Special Task Force to Katsina to help tackle incessant kidnapping and banditry in eight frontline local government areas of Jibiya, Danmusa, Faskari, Dandume, Kankara, Batsari, Safana and Sabuwa.

All the local government areas share border with the Rugu Forest from where bandits and kidnappers reportedly carry out their operations.The state Commissioner of Police (CP), Sanusi Buba, who disclosed this yesterday, said the officers would be stationed at three strategic locations for quick movement to the affected areas.