The more I look at the murder of Mene Ogidi by ASP Nuhu Usman, the more I come to the conclusion that the Inspector General of police should resign.
His failure to supervise those under him is enough reason. In a situation like this, the head of the Nigeria Police Force must be held accountable.
What occurred is not an isolated event. His leadership has led to the lax and tolerant atmosphere of police criminality and brutality.
My questions are many and varied: How long has this unit been terrorizing the citizens of Ekpan? Why is a non-uniform police officer allowed to carry an AK 47 to terrorize the people? How did an officer of this depravity get promoted to ASP? Who is the head of the unit this depraved officer belongs to? That head must also resign. Has there been any prior complaint against this officer? Why did the Inspector General of Police transfer the case to Abuja?
All crime is local. A crime committed in Delta state should never be transferred to another jurisdiction. The victims of this criminality must see that the criminal is tried and see that justice is done. The officer must be returned to Delta state for trial.
Transferring the officer to another jurisdiction is akin to contamination of the crime scene and tainting of the evidence. Abuja has no jurisdiction in this case. It can be construed that this transfer is tantamount to a cover up for the criminal.
All crime is local. Try Abuja criminals in Abuja and we will try our criminals in Delta State. It is difficult not to allege a cover up by this irregular method of seeking justice.
There is no law that allows the police chief to transfer criminal cases wily nilly to a jurisdiction of his choice. What he has done must be seen as illegal and further insult to the community that has been traumatized.
The police Inspector General must resign for his failure to properly supervise the men under him. At this juncture, the public has lost confidence in his leadership.
The president must do the right thing and fire the police chief. The loss of his position is when true healing will begin. The next police chief must include periodic psychological evaluation of the men they supervise. Those found wanting should be given early retirement.
Democracy becomes dictatorship when leadership is not held accountable. Enough is enough. The behavior of the police chief is one of the reasons we need community policing that are under the supervision of local communities.
We should never tolerate a police body that thinks they are the judge, jury and executioners. We should also never tolerate policing by strangers who know nothing about local mores.
- AUSTIN ORETTE, A SENATORIAL CANDIDATE, WRITES FROM OWHELOGBO IN DELTA STATE.