Thursday, 9 February 2012
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Corruption In The Nigeria Police Force: Putting The Records Straight
Police collects bribes from motorists on Nigerian highways
By Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi /Comrade Justus Ijeoma
(Onitsha-Nigeria, August 26, 2010)- The attention of International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) has been drawn to the reaction by the Nigeria Police Force High Command through its Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ojukwu over the above subject matter.
The said reaction is sequel to our recent reports on corruption in the Nigeria Police Force and how it fuelled and still fuels abuses in the Force.
We had on 27th day of July 2010 released a report bordering on the militarization of the Southeast of Nigeria by the Police and the roadblock extortions they carried out or “How Nigeria Police Personnel Raked In N9.35Billion From Over 1,350 Police Check-points In 18 Months”. On Tuesday, 17th day of August 2010, we issued a statement, titled: “In Solidarity With Human Rights Watch (USA)”. The statement was released in conjunction with Human Rights Watch, which released its report, titled: “Everyone Is In On The Game (Corruption and Human Rights Abuses by the Nigeria Police Force)”.
Nigeria’s Access to Justice and the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria also participated in the international news conference, which was held at the Lagos Airport Hotel in Lagos.
We had in the said press statement, recalled our earlier press release, dated 17th day of March 2010, and titled: “How 34,000 Nigerians were killed outside the law since 1999”. Also, having used Anambra State as our case-study in the area of roadblocks and police extortions in the Southeast Nigeria, we updated the report to cover the remaining five geopolitical zones in Nigeria based on numbers of police check-points, prevalence of blue-collar factors and other socio-economic indices in the said areas, hence our estimation that the sum of N20.5Billion had been lost in the hands of the extortionist police personnel in the entire six geopolitical zones in Nigeria in the past 18 months (January 2009 to June 2010).
As expected, the Nigeria Police Force described the Intersociety and Human Rights Watch reports as “embellished innuendoes and suggestive graphics aimed at reaching a preconceived conclusion”. Since then, the Nigeria Police Force has not gone a step further to concretize its denial or to dispute in details the graphic accounts contained in the reports. As a result, we have decided to further put the records straight by releasing more facts so as to further buttress the said reports. We also received numerous calls from various parts of Nigeria over our inability to feature on the post-reports’ live television programmes on Channels and Silver Bird Television Stations in Lagos so as to throw more light on our reports. The truth is that we left for Onitsha hours after the news conference ended, which made the Researcher at Human Rights Watch, Mr. Eric Guttschuss to feature alone on the said TV Live Programs, in order to clear air on HRW’s aspect of the reports. It is on the basis of these that we unequivocally, wish to restate the following positions so earlier taken:
1. That as at June 30, 2010, and even up to 23rd day of August 2010, over 1,350 police check-points existed and still exist in the Southeast Nigeria and their operators’ stocks-in-trade are roadblock extortions and protecting the protected, and not the protectless.
2. That it may be correct to say that over N9.35Billion had been raked in from the Zone, from January 2009 to June 2010 and that in the last 54 days that is, July 1, 2010 to August 23, 2010,another N1,075Billion has been added, bringing the total to N10,425Billion that is, Anambra-N378Million, Abia-N378Million,Imo- N135Million, Enugu-N108Million and Ebonyi-N76Million.
3. That it may be correct to say that the sum of N11Billion had been raked in from other five geopolitical zones between January 2009 and June 2010 that is, South-south-N4Billion, South-west-N4Billion, North-central and Abuja- N2Billion, North-east-N500Million and North-west-N500Million, and that the sum might have recorded another ten percent increase in the last 54 days that is, July 1, 2010 to August 23, 2010 or about N1.1Billion, bringing the total to N12.1Billion in the past nineteen months and twenty-four days.
4. That it may be correct to say that the grand total of monies extorted by the Nigeria Police Personnel from members of the Nigeria’s blue-collar societies throughout Nigeria in the post 19 months and 24 days that is, 1st day of January 2009 to 23rd day of August 2010 is over N22.5Billion, from N20.35Billion realized as at 30th day of June 2010.
5. That the fiscal figure above did not include unlawful proceeds arising from: “wetin you carry”, unlawful pretrial bail fees and commercialization of criminal enquiries.
6. That the Southeast zone is the worst affected area or zone, followed by South-south, South-west, North-central and Abuja, North-west and North-east.
7. That these extortions fuelled and still fuel police abuses such as unlawful arrests (including mass-raids), extra-judicial enforcement of law (such as bans placed on Okada operations in some States, non-wearing of crash-helmets, restrictions on Okada movements at dawn etc), checks on vehicular papers aiming at incriminating their owners so as to extort them, torture, rape/sexual assaults and extra-judicial killings.
8. That out of over 34,000 Nigerians believed to have been killed outside the law since 1999(past eleven years), the Nigeria Police Personnel are believed to have been responsible for over 10,000 of such deaths. Such killings mainly resulted from excessive force applied to quell various communal and ethno-religious conflicts, torture and custodial killings and that many victims of such killings (especially custodial deaths) died because they could not “buy” their lives and freedoms.
For instance, on 4th day of November 2004; between 7:15pm and 8:00pm, twenty detainees at the then SARS (special anti-robbery squad) headquarters at the Central Police Station, Awka, Anambra State, Southeast, Nigeria were brought out of their cell, lined up and shot dead. They were brought to the Station in the morning of the same day and one of the detainees was ordered by a police officer, who gave him a piece of paper and a pen, to compile their names and States of origin. The police officer forgot to recover the list from the detainee. This was how Comrade Ifeanyi Onuchukwu, founder of the Humane Justice Nigeria ( a rights advocacy group) at Nnewi, Anambra State, Southeast, Nigeria got hold of it.
Comrade Onuchukwu was arrested and brought to the Station same day for organizing a peaceful protest against the excesses of a garbage contracting firm, working for the then Government of Anambra State. As a result, he witnessed the killing and gave names of the murdered citizens as: Nduka Okoye(Anambra State), Ephraim Okenyeka(Anambra State), Samuel Odoh(Enugu State), Ofobike Odoh (Enugu State), Chibueze Ugwuoke (Ebonyi State), Ugochukwu Okonkwo (Anambra State), Chizoba Mbaebie (Anambra State), Ifeanyi Nwanfunanya (Anambra State), Ugochukwu Anakwe( Anambra State), Ifeanyi Izueke (Enugu State), Ekene Ejike
(Anambra State), Chinedu Okoro (Enugu State), Uche Ubaka (Anambra State), Mr. Charles (Anambra State), Onyeabo Anaekwe (Anambra State), Leonard Obasi (Enugu State), Emeka Ofoke (Ebonyi State), Chibuzor Asouzu (Anambra State), Mr. Obiajuru (Anambra State) and Ugoo Nwaude (Enugu State). Their remains were reportedly conveyed in police pick-up vans and dumped at Agu-Awka Virgin Land, located kilometers away from the State capital city. Representations were made and the Zone 9 Command of the Nigeria Police Force opened investigations but till date, nothing has come out of same.
9. That out of the said 34,000 unlawful deaths since 1999, vigilante groups such as
Bakassi Boys in Anambra, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Lagos (O’odua Peoples Congress Vigilante Group) States accounted for over 10,000 killings between 1998 and 2002. For instance, out of over 5,000 deaths recorded in Anambra State, masterminded by OTA (Onitsha Traders Association) and Bakassi Boys or the Anambra Vigilante Service between September 1999 and September 2002, at least twelve politically related murders took place. The names of those murdered are as follows: Chuma Onwuazo, son of Nnayelugo Onwuazo, an Onitsha High Chief (April 2000), Comrade Bonaventure Egbuawa, a rights group advocate (July 2000), Honourable Ifeanyi Ibegbu, a member of the State House of Assembly (attempted murder/torture-August 2000), Prophet Edward Okeke, a popular/controversial preacher (November 2000), Chief Ezeodimegwu Okonkwo, a notable politician/musician (February 2001), Mr. Ikechukwu Nwagboo, an aide to Hon. Chudi Offodile, then member of the House of Representatives representing Awka North/South Federal Constituency(February 2001), Chief Rockfeller Okeke, a top official of the Anambra State Ministry of Information (April 2001), Mrs. Ngozika Oranu., a widow who was abducted, raped and murdered in the “Bakassi White House”(November 2001) over her refusal to surrender her late husband’s properties, Felix Ikebude, a supporter of Sir Emeka Offor (December 2001), Chief Sunday Uzokwe, a community leader at Ozubulu Community in Ekwusigo Council Area of Anambra State, who reportedly had some differences with a chieftain of the Bakassi Boys and native of the community (January 2002), Mr. Odigwe, a top staff of the Anambra State Environmental Sanitation Authority, who reportedly challenged the excesses of a Bakassi chieftain who was also a government appointee in-charge of revenue generation in markets( August 2001) and Barristers Barnabas and Amaka Blessing (“A.B. Girl”) Igwe, chairman of the Onitsha Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association and his wife (1st day of September 2002). The Bakassi Boys were dislodged on 22nd day of September 2002. Out of over 5,000 weapons in their hands and over 2,500 operatives of the outfit, only 48 operatives and 48 weapons were arrested and recovered respectively.
10. That out of 34,000 unlawful deaths recorded in Nigeria since 1999, over 13,500 resulted from communal and ethno-religious conflicts such as Kaduna Riots of 2000/2001, Jos Crises of 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2010, Ezza-Ezillo Communal Clashes of 2008 and 2010, Aguleri-Umuleri Communal Clashes of 1999/2000(second conflict), Tiv Riot of 2001, to mention but a few.
Further Information On Police Extortions:
On 24th day of March 2010, between 6:30pm and 7:00 pm, some policemen led by one ASP E. Anele of Iyiowa Odekpe Police Post in Ogbaru Council Area of Anambra State raided Okija Street in the area and arrested over 40 persons. They were taken into detention and asked to pay illegal bail fees ranging from N2,000 to N5,000. Those who paid were allowed to go home and others who could not stayed till the next day. By the time this Organization intervened via Comrade Justus Ijeoma, only fourteen victims could be identified. We filed a complaint at the Onitsha Area Command and after interviewing the victims, ACP John Nwaele ordered the Divisional Police Officer for Atani Police Station, who also supervises the Iyiowa Police Post, to refund the monies unlawfully taken from the fourteen victims and on Wednesday, 31st day of March 2010, the Divisional Crime Officer for Atani Police Station refunded the money totaling N58,760.00.
The names of the victims and the amount extorted from each of them are as follows: 1. Mr. David Chikwelu N4,000, 2. Miss Anurika Nsofor- N5,000, 3. Mr. Onochie Chukwuemeka –N5,000, 4. Mr. Emeka Orji N5,000, 5. Mr. Chukwura Onuorah- N2,000, 6. Mr. Ejinkonye Osadebe –N2,000, 7. Mr. Ugochukwu Ihemeje- N3,000, 8. Mr. Nonso Ihemeje-N3,000, 9. Mr. Alex Anene- N3,000, 10. Mr. Nicholas Obinwa- N5,000, 11. Mr. Chimezie Eziogu- N3,000, 12. Mr. Sunday Njideofor- N3,000, 13. Mr. Ifeanyi Osuanya-N3,000 and Mr. Uche Michael- N3,000. The sum of N9,790.00 was collected from- Ejinkonye Osadebe, Chimezie Eziogu and Alex Anene when they were searched.
Mr. Sunday Ukpabia, a private motorcyclist, was arrested on 6th day of August 2010 by a police patrol team attached to Okpoko Police Station, near Onitsha, Anambra State and accused of bearing fake “Autoreg” motorcycle papers. He requested for a bail so as to enable him produce the insurance officer that issued him with the papers. When the insurance officer, Mr. Okechukwu Dim reported to the Police Station, he was handcuffed, beaten and clamped into detention. Out of fear and his falling health, he paid N30,000 to his captives. On 11th day of August 2010, a complaint was lodged and on 19th day of August 2010, the money was refunded to Mr. Okey Dim by the A.O. of the Station, on the instruction of the DPO, SP Abubakar Adam.
Mr. Egodigbo Enwezor and Mr. Melvin Chuka Okafor were arrested on 6th day of March 2010 by the operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, Awkuzu Headquarters in Anambra State, on false accusation of kidnapping and were detained for six days. They were released after they had been tortured and paid the sum of N50,000 as bail fees. A complaint was lodged before the Officer-in-charge of SARS, CSP Felix Kigighan and on 24th day of March 2010, the money was refunded.
In July 2009, Mr. Kenneth Iheanacho, a native of Awomama in Orlu Council Area of Imo State, Southeast Nigeria, was arrested alongside his bus driver and conductor and accused of “armed robbery” and “driving a stolen bus”. They ply Lagos-Owerri route. On getting to Imo State, they were flagged down by a police patrol team attached to the Imo State Police Command, simply because they carried some passengers’ belongings. The patrol team insisted on taking the sum of N20,000 from them. Their refusal landed them into detention at the Owerri Police Command Headquarters, from where they were handed over to the Special Anti Robbery Squad, who transferred them to the SARS Headquarters at Zone 9 Command in Umuahia, Abia State, Southeast Nigeria. There, they were mercilessly tortured and held incommunicado for two weeks before we got wind of the development. Those who went to effect their release, including a legal practitioner, were threatened and asked to pay N1million and they agreed to pay N300,000. We were also threatened when we introduced ourselves. At the end, through the intervention of the Command’s second-in-command, they were released.
Instances are too numerous to mention. In those cases mentioned above, threats to eliminate our Comrades either in the Police Stations or at check-points were a routine. Sometimes such threats come from senior officers. The accounts above clearly show what members of the Nigeria’s blue-collar societies pass through on daily basis in the hands of their supposedly protectors (police) and that out of every five citizens that have encounters with the Nigeria Police Personnel, five are extorted.
The latest report concerning roadblocks and extortions associated with same is that the criminal exercise has reached a crescendo. It is so bad and horrible that those plying Aba-Ikot-ekpene Road with adjoining routes to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State and Calabar in Cross River State, South-South, Nigeria have embarked on strike over incessant police harassment and extortion. The strike was embarked upon on Monday 23rd day of August 2010 after several representations made to the Aba Area Commander and other relevant police authorities were unheeded. The transport companies using the said routes are NDDC, Akwa Ibom Transport Company, etc. The Chairman of the Inter-State Drivers’ Association, Etom Bassey Inyang, claimed that he generated N14,000 from his passengers last Saturday (21-08-2010) and spent about N9,140 on police check-points in a seven-kilometer journey. Another city transporter in Aba told Intersociety that he generates N1,400.00 per trip in his 14-seater bus and spends N800.00 on police extortion. Chief Inyang said he pays N100.00 per check-point and pays between N200.00 and N300.00 per check-point if he carries loads in the boot of his commercial vehicle.
Just yesterday (25-08-2010), between 6:00pm and 10:00pm, the right side of the Onitsha-Asaba Dual Carriage Way was blocked. The terrible traffic jams stretched from Onitsha Upper-Iweka to Old Toll Gate Asaba in Delta State, South-south Nigeria. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (Military Police) and some Mobile policemen at check-point, mounted at the Onitsha end of the Road had flagged down a “911” Lorry driver carrying used metal objects and demanded N1000.00 bribe and he offered them N200.00, which they bluntly rejected. The driver’s attempts to move his lorry saw two of his lorry’s tyres bursted and riddled with bullets. In protest, the driver blocked the road and the said police personnel ran away. The two tyres, according to him, cost N85,000 each. The Anambra CP, the Onitsha Area Commander and the Fegge DPO were notified by some entrapped passengers.
Finally, pictures, they say, do not lie. As a result, we have attached the following (five) pictures showing where and how Mobile Police Personnel were caught engaging in the crimes of extortion, obstruction, etc. Picture one is showing a Mobile Policeman collecting N20.00 from a commercial bus driver in Anambra State. Picture two is showing a Mobile Policeman collecting N20.00 from a bus driver on Enugu end of the Enugu- Port Harcourt Road. Picture three is showing a Mobile Policeman pocketing a N20.00 note he collected from a bus driver on an Owerri road. Picture four is showing another Mobile Policeman stretching his hands to collect bribe on an Aba road. While picture five is showing the long queues and traffic jams caused by the toll collecting points.
Some bad elements within the Nigeria Police Force, according to a dependable source in Government have reportedly threatened that should roadblock extortions be abolished in the Southeast Nigeria, property-crimes such as armed robbery and bank/bullion van robbery, and violent crimes such as kidnapping and mass-killing would envelope the Zone. This has vindicated our earlier position that crimes ravaging the Southeast and other parts of Nigeria in recent times might have the blessings of the rank and files and the command hierarchy of the Force. Therefore, any resurgence of such horrendous crimes at such magnitude in the Zone will make the Nigeria Police Force answer for them. For full details of our earlier reports so highlighted, please visit our website at www.intersociety-ng.org, under “Events” and “Press Releases”.
From: International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law(Nigeria)
For Immediate Release
Signed:
Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi Comrade Justus Ijeoma
Chairman Head
Board of Trustees Publicity Desk
Phone: +234(0)8033601078 Phone: +234(0)8037114869
Email: botchairman@intersociety-ng.org
Website: www.intersociety-ng.org
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I agree with you on many of
Submitted by protec helmets (not verified) on February 2, 2012 - 11:32.
I agree with you on many of your original ideas here. You’ve done a great job of making this very interesting and clear. Thank you.
Regards,
skateboard helmets
remain dogged
Submitted by ngozi (not verified) on September 13, 2010 - 14:53.
please, do not rest your oars for the end is near and you will definitely win for darkness can never conquer light anywhere, anytime.well done.we all appreciate your works.the NPF can lie well about any of these corrupt acts,even they know they are more corrupt than written here
Plainclothes Policemen are now exort money opposite banks
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 10, 2010 - 10:13.
Be carefull now as you are coming out of banks.These plainclothes policemen are waiting for you opposite the bbanks where you park you car.They will just tell you that your attention is needed at the nearby police station.(you are a wanted man)That is where they search you and later have to pay them some money if they find any document that does not belong to you-to release you.I was a victim.They rate or size you up to charge you the way you dress and quality of your car.
ONOVO ENJOY YOUR LEVE , GOD
Submitted by CIVILIAN MINISTER (not verified) on September 9, 2010 - 22:13.
ONOVO ENJOY YOUR LEVE , GOD ARE PAYING ALL OF YOU ONE BY ONE, SOON WILL BE FOR BABANGIDA, CHIEF OF CHOP I CHOP
CORRUPTION IN THE POLICE FORCE.
Submitted by el-Mallah (not verified) on September 7, 2010 - 22:22.
IT IS THE SYSTEM.OTHERWISE WHAT CAN YOU SAY OF A PRESIDENT AND HIS DEPUTY BUILDING PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES WITH STOLEN PUBLIC FUND.
PUNISH ERRING POLICE OFFICERS OR BETTER STILL REMOVE THE POLICE BOSS UNDER WHOSE TENOR OR COMMAND THIS CRIMES ARE COMMITTED.
Thank God Someone Has Been Looking
Submitted by Elderstatesman (not verified) on September 7, 2010 - 12:15.
I am very happy someone is speaking up about the excesses of our brothers in uniform in the Southeast especially Anambra State. I once counted the number of those check points and the time it took us in a commuter bus to reach Enugu from Onitsha. It was horrible.
Well done true comrades, good job,we need more of these reports with facts and figures.
ONOVO PLEASE ACT NOW.
Submitted by Dada Ogbegun (not verified) on September 7, 2010 - 11:11.
If you failed to act, God will remove you and put a serious minded person there.
THE MOST VISIBLE CORRUPT SECTOR IN NIGERIA
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 3, 2010 - 13:53.
ther is no different between Nigeria police and and the biblical tax collector that lack integrity and proffesionalism, no wonder? Jesus told him to return all before he can be save. the need to save nigerian from the public assault,injury,and untimely death from nigeria police becuase of #20
I want to inform Nigerians
Submitted by Frank Ozo (not verified) on September 2, 2010 - 00:01.
I want to inform Nigerians how police and car snatches used to work in Owerri Imo state. Once police in the state starts stop and search, it will last for one to two weeks then watch or keep your ear over the radio and television for the upper week “car missing at gun point” these car snatches will stop you as if they are police the same way the police use to stop during their stop and search by double crossing you with speed and all your mind will say that is police again before you know what is happen they will be shouting wey your key , come down the same language with police finally they will take your car and your mobile phone. Then you will understand that is car snatches not police during this period of car snatching you will not see police doing their stop and search again they will give way for car snatches to finish their duty for the number of days they agree on. Our police need to be scrutinized, they work together with the car snatches Imo State.
Corruption In The Nigeria Police Force
Submitted by Frank Ozo (not verified) on September 1, 2010 - 23:55.
I want to inform Nigerians how police and car snatches used to work in Owerri Imo state. Once police in the state starts stop and search, it will last for one to two weeks then watch or keep your ear over the radio and television for the upper week “car missing at gun point” these car snatches will stop you as if they are police the same way the police use to stop during their stop and search by double crossing you with speed and all your mind will say that is police again before you know what is happen they will be shouting wey your key , come down the same language with police finally they will take your car and your mobile phone. Then you will understand that is car snatches not police during this period of car snatching you will not see police doing their stop and search again they will give way for car snatches to finish their duty for the number of days they agree on. Our police need to be scrutinized, they work together with the car snatches Imo State.
NPF- GOD HELP US!
Submitted by finecountry (not verified) on September 1, 2010 - 14:43.
Your findings are dumbfounding. What else can one say other than MAY GOD HELP US! The hunter has turned its amunition against the poor farmer, leaving the animals to go spree. How do God answer our prayers when those who cry out to God are themselves enmesshed in injustice and brutal demostration of crude force? Again I say, GOD HELP US!
WHO IS TO BLAME
Submitted by BLISS (not verified) on September 1, 2010 - 10:02.
THANK YOU SAHARA. BUT, U STILL.VE A LONG WAY TO GO.WHO'RE THE POLICE?DO WE'VE NIGERIA POLICE OR NIGERIA POLICE FORCE?LET US START FROM THE PRESIDENT:WHAT HAS HE DONE FOR THE NIJA POLICE SINCE HE HAD ASSUME OFFICE? WHAT OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON POLICE AFFAIRS?WHAT OF THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR?WHAT OF POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION? THE POLICE IG, DIG, AIG, POLICE COMMISSIONERS AND RANKS AND FILE?ARE THEY DEAD TO THEIR DUTY?ARE THEY BLIND TO ALL THESE CRIMES?WE CANNOT BLAME THOSE POLICEMEN WE FIND ON OUR ROAD SINCE THEY'VE TO OBEY THE LAST ORDER?THE RETURN DO GOES TO THE OGA PAPATA. IF A GROUP OF ARMED RUBBER CAN AFFORD TO BUY GOOD AND MODERN WEAPON.WHAT IS OUR SO CALLED LEADERS DOING. IS THE WEAPON TOO COST FOR A NATION TO BUY AND VERY EASY FOR RUBBERS TO BUY. HA!NIGERIA GOVERNMENT DON'T WAIT UNTIL WE ALL DIE FROM THE HAND OF LOW RANK, ANGRY, HUNGRY, UN-DEFENSIVE OFFICER, UN-CARTER FOR AFTER DEATH (FOR HIS FAMILY) HOW'LL HE NOT LOOK FOR OTHER MEANS TO LIVE LIFE FOR. WHEN BOTH SENATORS & NATIONAL ASSEMBLE KEEP FIGHTING FOR THEMSELVES WITHOUT A GOOD THOUGHT OF HOW TO BETTER THE LIFE OF EVERYBODY. HA, OGA PRESIDENT JONA.. DO SOMETHING NOW. BEFORE THE WHOLE NATION GO WIELD FOR WAR!!!!!!!!!!
Sahara reporters and the
Submitted by Niangyir (not verified) on August 31, 2010 - 11:52.
Sahara reporters and the Human Right activist have done a good job by exposing the asrocities of the police. From there so called discoveries one can but conclude that the police deserved the various numencletures it isbeing called. However, what about the astrocities against the police. the killings, because the man has failed to tell the world how many police men were killed during boko haram, robery operations, communal clasheses, political riots and how many of such families had their entitlements paid. he has failed woefully to tell the world the number of bill passed in respect of improving police performance and welfare since 1999. he has failed to tell us how many vehicles, omputers, to mention the basics that were purchased for police efficiency in crime fighting. he has also failed to bring the statistics on fuel supply to thepolice so that we will have enought reason to crucify them for corruption on the high way.Honestly our police are what they are because of where the come from (Nigeria ) and they are treated, otherwise The U N would not have requesting for their services in international assignment if they were inherently as dirty as we paint them. For the information of the man, the are among the best in internationalassignment. WHy, WHY WHY. The human activist seemsto have a score to settle.
Head Vs Body
Submitted by Alli Pedro (not verified) on August 30, 2010 - 16:44.
As the head goes so does the body, fix the head and the body will fall in order. Once we can get the presidency right, the police, ministers and Governors will fall into order. Aluta Continua
Lagos police Nko?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 30, 2010 - 15:45.
Nice research work done by the comrade.the figure are still underestimated as far as i am concern. the report focus more on the SE nigeria. You guys need to come to lagos to see this men in black extort money from innocent lagosians. They tend to focus on the people that are most vulnerable.I was forced to part with close to twenty thousand on three incident last month alone(mind u i stubborn no be small). Once they get to know you are in a haste to get somewhere then your charges gets higher.
On the last occasion i had to meet the DPO,on sighting the document found in my car which was an official document belonging to my company he asked his men to caution me and let me go. Caution to me meant release, alass i was wrong.Men in black requested i paid five thousand else i getlocked up. what will i do in such situation and it was getting late , had to pay before story go change and i would be labeled armed robber.
In as much our elected leader cant help, we remain at the mercy of the men in black.
There seems to be a decrease after this report came out,guessthey are hibernating
Toll gate, checking points
Submitted by Umu Oke (not verified) on August 30, 2010 - 10:31.
Toll gate, checking points and searching of vehicles with passengers are war time measures.
Is Nigeria still at war ? No . But when Oga needs money for his building; money to buy land or to pay school-/ University fees, he sends his boys(jnr plicemen) to mount road blocks all over the areas, especially on market days.Sometimes, Oga would be under a shaddy tree by the road side, counting the number of vehicles that pass-by,-which he multiplies by twenty, just to know the day's gains.A policeman's Oga is his superior officer, who receives the daily extortion and shares it among themselves. Scandalous arrest to extort money occurs every day in all parts of Southeast asd South-south.
Police???
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 30, 2010 - 01:01.
Does Nigeria have police or pothief? Antoher verse jari
BALOGUN AND EHINDERO RECIEVED MILD CRITICS HERE
Submitted by Ejirimfugha (stuttgart) (not verified) on August 29, 2010 - 13:06.
The corruption in the nigeria police is a chronic illness that cannot be ONOVOED overnight.By the way what has Saharareporters got with this present police leadership,that was invisible during balogun and Ehindero days? We know that the Nigeria police is a messlessly corrupt, but the politicians and nigerians in general are not better.
I am beggining to be be suspicious of a hidden agenda out there.This is like always accusing other politicians of corruption,while bankole gets a milder treatment.Saharareporters you are our last hope,and please don´t dissapoint.
Onovo! Save Your Name
Submitted by Sola. (Ikorodu) (not verified) on August 29, 2010 - 08:28.
It will be very difficult for the I.G to disociate himself from the activities of the "Bastards" which a failing state like Nigeria is refering to as a force. If the I.G is not a party to the whole deal, how many of the Commissioners in those affected areas have been prosecuted or dismissed for their inabilities to manage their Zones? It was only yesterday that a police officer was asking me to pay N2,000 for my failure to produce Road Worthiness on my Camry car along Ore-Benin road on my way to Ondo State.His argument was that although my car was relatively new, but the road worthiness is a source of revenue for the Federal Government. I then asked him whether it has now become the responsibility of the Nigerian Police as a body to collect taxes on behalf of the Federal Goverment. He delayed me for over 1 hr. but I decided not to part with a kobo. It was when I now introduced myself as a Legal Practioner and that I am not ready to pay anything that they allow me to continue my trip. For how long shall we continue to live in this "state of nature" It is high time the I.G woke up from his slumber!
There is nothing like a Police force in Nigeria
Submitted by Ovakpor from Poland (not verified) on August 28, 2010 - 20:44.
Intersociety have set the right network to checkmate the Nigerian Police by the citizen themselve since the government have failed the ordinary Nigerian and denied him or her the right to life and protection. What Nigeria have as a police force are licence individuals given the authority by the ruling class to extort, steal and eliminate her own citizens which is lebeled as a force called ''Police'' but I would raither call them licence armed rubbers. Thanks to intersociety and all their crews that are risking their lives to have taken it unpon themselves to come this far in exposing some of the artrocities of the so called Nigerian Police force to the international communities through their international networking. The ordinary Nigerian needs protection which they don't have and cannot find instead what they have are criminal in uniform as their protector with the full protection of the law to extort and take life at will. One interesting thing about the Nigerian Police fore is that they claim to know everything that is, the average policeman in Nigeria is a lawyer, immigration and custom he is all knowing that is jack of all trade but master of none in most cases they reframe a case that is not surpose to be all to make money out of the inocent and unprotected, unsuspecting victim and if not pursued properly and carefully by the victim might lead to his or her death all in the name of money, they ask for irrelevant document from car owners as if there is know custom in the country any more what a shame. Don't the Nigerian police force know what division of labour is all about I mean is there know vehicle inspection department in the police force? Most every policeman be vehicle inspectors in our roads? The police force of any country is the reflection of the leadership in that country when a country have good leadership, it produced a decipline armforce but when it's otherwise the forcese are equally instrument of distruction eg killing machine as the case maybe just like the modern day Nigerian police force.
police brutality
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 28, 2010 - 20:20.
now i understand those roadblocks are to protect those in government only.It is high time we take destiny inour own hands.
police brutality
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 28, 2010 - 20:20.
now i understand those roadblocks are to protect those in government only.It is high time we take destiny inour own hands.
police brutality
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 28, 2010 - 20:20.
now i understand those roadblocks are to protect those in government only.It is high time we take destiny inour own hands.
Good Job, but Lets Stop Chasing Whiteworld Attention!
Submitted by John Iteshi (not verified) on August 28, 2010 - 17:51.
I must praise the efforts of this group of Nigerians going extra miles to show their concern about the culture of corruption in the police force, but my problem is that every so-called NGO and civil rights group in Nigeria seem to believe it is more important to attract the attention of the White world than the attention of Nigerian masses.
No amount of White supremacist reports produced by the Human Rights Watch or the other dubious one called Amnesty International can change the Nigerian Police force.
We must begin to focus more on sustainable changes and developments rather than just building personal profiles and feeling good about own works.
I further praise the group for getting the police to refund bribe money. That is the real job there. With grassroots campaign and change of attitude, there would be real change. CNN or any White media or organisation cannot change Nigeria.
Moreover, people must know that Nigerians are not really expressing any real frustration with their wholly failed system.
Also, the Nigerian Police may be far more honest than the National Assembly and the Civil Service.
In any case, who is not abusing his position in Nigeria? One may also ask, perhaps, cynically, why should the police not abuse its powers? Where are the incentives?
Yes, the blame for all these
Submitted by danboyi gomsuk (not verified) on August 28, 2010 - 17:00.
Yes, the blame for all these atrocities usually goes to the Nigeria Police but shall we end there? Since this news broke (19 months ago) would the supervising department or ministry deny that it has been aware of it? Would the federal government as a whole claim ignorance of the situation? In addition would the federal government claim ignorance of the increasing extra-judicial killings of the police and other associated bodies? Come on folks, let us place our fingers on the right button and pin the blame where it should be: the federal government. The federal government shares over 75% of these blames! And if we agree with this then we are coming nearer home towards focusing the searchlight at the right corner.
What is happening now is gradually gravitating towards what happens or has happened in other countries where breaches of international laws have occurred. The Pol Pot of Cambodia used its police force and other security agents to exterminate over one million of the citizens; The Rwandan authorities used its militias to exterminate close to one million of Rwandans; the central government of Sudan used the janjaweed or the vicious Arab killers to exterminate hundreds of thousands of Darfur people in the southern sudan; and of more recent are the Congolese massacres. All these have one thing in common: they have been called GENOCIDE and have been treated as such under international law. Some of these have been punished already (the Pol Pot case, the Rwandan case). That of Sudan is still outstanding and the sitting president, Al-Bashir, is not protected by state immunity.
And this is what may eventually happen in Nigeria with regard to the leaders of the various Nigerian governments who close their eyes to what the Nigerian police (and also the military) is doing to the Nigerian civilians. When the relevant arm of the UN declares these atrocities genocide, the sitting Nigerian Head of State or any implicated ex-Head of State would not be protected by State immunity as is now happening to Al-Bashir of Sudan. Of course the servants (the relevant ministers and the various service chiefs of these implicated Nigerian Heads of State would not be covered by any form of immunity also. No amount of defence of non-interference in the internal affairs of a nation would protect any implicated public official associated with these killings.
I think this short exposition of events and its legal implications should be an eye-opener to all those in the saddle of governance in Nigeria. And for their information, there is nothing like the statute of limitation in cases of this nature; even thirty or forty years after the said atrocity, the culprit would still face the wrath of the law.
Therefore our government officials must sit up and protect the civilians from the irresponsible acts of the police force and, by extension, of the military who are not exempt from all these atrocities. The evidence are gradually being compiled and the perpetrators of these dastardly acts may not be aware of those who compile these evidence.
Keep up the pressure, Sahara
Submitted by A Alao (not verified) on August 28, 2010 - 14:26.
Keep up the pressure, Sahara Reporters! There is an African saying that 'a person who has dipped himself into water, doesn't know that his back is showing to others on shore'. The police, and by extension, the institution of governance in the country is corrupt and cannot redeem itself. Maybe, just maybe, a day of riotous anger that would sweep away those nefarious road blocks would steal unawares on these incorrigible rogues in uniforms.
WELL DONE, COMRADES!
Submitted by Kingsley, MD (not verified) on August 28, 2010 - 13:52.
I salute your courage comrades. I still maintain that no body can save Nigeri, but Nigerians. Our politicians like status quo because they benefit from it, and would resist any move to change it. So lets take our destinies in our hands. The institutions that are supposed to protect us are no longer reliable, so what do we do, if not to screaming? My dear comrades, you have started it; my promise is that I would support you, as much as I can. Let the fight begin, let us use evry technology available, mobile phones, camcoders, etc. We can liberate Nigeria. Yes, we can.
Our greatest worry
Submitted by Ese Otaks (not verified) on August 28, 2010 - 12:18.
The Nigeria police is the greatest obstacle to a peaceful and corruption free society. The police can do anything for money. They rob, they give robbery information, they hire out their weapons, they arrest at will for no reason. If you go to a typical police station in the south-south every space outside is an office for extortion. A police recently threatened to shoot me for pointing out to him that road worthiness is not a requirement for private cars. A police roadblock once took a passenger into the bush when they found a large sum with him and asked the bus driver to go.The passengers saved that soul.
The unfortunate thing is that the IG is settled as are the hierarchy. The presidency does not have the will to stop it. As for the PSC, they are also in it.
When you live in Nigeria God only can save you.
CAN ONOVO DELIVER?
Submitted by DERI (not verified) on August 28, 2010 - 10:42.
We want ONOVO-WE WANT ONOVO-WE WANT ONOVO-WE NOW HAVE HIM-YET OUR AILMENT REMAINS THE SAME-THE WAY THE BRITS LEFT THEM-OVER 50YRS AGO
My only advise is that you
Submitted by Ota Fox (not verified) on August 28, 2010 - 09:45.
My only advise is that you take pictures & videos with your phones (as many as you can) then post it on here (sahara reporters). Also post as many as possible to youtube and facebook.
Nigerian authorities and politicians feel the pinch more when the whole world condemns their leadership and what better way to expose them all than on youtube, facebook, sahara reporters & CNN.
Use your mobile phones and cameras now more than ever!
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