Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has frowned at the
constant violation of the rights of Nigerian youths by men of the
Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
“I AM very concerned, in fact, very angry about what I see,
happening to young men and women who are arrested, in some cases
maimed or killed by men of the police force,” the Vice
President said when State House correspondents approached him at
the Presidential Villa on Sunday afternoon.
Prof Osinbajo was asked mainly about the economic challenges
facing the country and Nigerians, and also the reported recent
upsurge in the activities of FSARS regarding harassment of people
alongside different violations of the rights of especially young
Nigerians by some police officers.
In his response, the VP who had earlier held a meeting with the
Inspector General of Police today at his residence said the
President and himself had discussed the matter on a number of
occasions noting the President’s displeasure about such reports and
his resolve to ensure reforms.
According to him, such violations are “completely unacceptable
because these are individuals who are meant to protect Nigerians.
The arrest, maiming or killing of young people or anyone at all, is
completely wrong. It is unlawful and illegal, and anyone involved
in this act ought to be investigated and prosecuted.”
The VP said, “today, I had a meeting with the Inspector General
of Police, we reviewed several of these issues. The President and I
have had discussions on this, he is very concerned about it. He
wants to see reform.
“You are probably aware that the IGP has issued a statement
looking at all these issues, in particular, the warning against the
use of these tactical units such as SARS for purposes of doing
anything other than anti-robbery.
“For example, and I think in his statement, he specifically said
that you cannot have a situation where SARS says, they are
investigating Cybercrime by arresting young men and women carrying
their laptops and phones. Cybercrime is electronic crime. I don’t
see how you can investigate that by seizing people’s phones in a
taxi or in their cars.
“It is very obvious that this is a major concern, a few bad eggs
in the police force are causing all of these problems because it is
all over the place, in different states. There is a need to take
serious action.
“The IG’s statement today is a good first step. He has said
clearly that policemen must wear police uniforms. You cannot say
that because you belong to a tactical unit, you can dress in your
casual clothing and be armed, because people can’t even tell the
difference between robbers and the police if you are not properly
dressed in police uniform. So, clearly, reform is in the
offing.
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“So, I will like to encourage civil society activists, young
men, and women, who bring this regularly, by the way, to the
attention of government and the police. And I think that activism
is important because they have been able to bring a lot of these
issues to the attention of the police and government, and that is
an important part of the process of the reform.”
Continuing, he said “It is very obvious that this is a major
concern. A few bad eggs in the police force are causing all of
these problems. It is all over the place, in different states.
There is a need to take serious action. The IG’s statement today is
a good first step.
“He has said clearly that officers have to dress properly. You
cannot say that because you belong to a tactical unit, you can
dress in your casual clothing, armed in a car. People can’t even
tell the difference between robbers and the police, if you are not
properly dressed in police uniform.”
Urging that all hands be on deck to effect reforms, the VP said
“I think that we all have to work together to ensure that the
police and law enforcement agents, do what their duty is and their
duty is to protect us, protect our society and livelihoods and
homes.
“By the way, many of them are doing their duties excellently
well, but there are some of them who are engaged in these
activities. So, we must see this as something we all must work
together to achieve, as individuals, to bring to the attention of
the police and government, where there have been violations.
“And on the part of the government and the police: to ensure
that every one of those allegations is properly investigated and
those found responsible are prosecuted and publicized so that
people know that prosecution has taken place and this is the
consequence. I am very confident that we will have a reformed
police force and that process has already begun.”