TUC wants IG to curb police excesses

The union gave the advice against the recent attacks of the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mr. Ade Abolurin, and his men by police officers of Owutu Station in Ikorodu area of Lagos.Condemning the act, president of the union, Comrade Bala Kaigama and its General-Secretary, Barrister Muhammed Lawal, said in […]

The union gave the advice against the recent attacks of the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mr. Ade Abolurin, and his men by police officers of Owutu Station in Ikorodu area of Lagos.
Condemning the act, president of the union, Comrade Bala Kaigama and its General-Secretary, Barrister Muhammed Lawal, said in a statement  that the action of the police on the defence corp officials has become rampant in recent time.
The union recalled that last year, two men of the anti-pipeline vandalisation squad of the Lagos State Command of NSCDC, namely Messrs. AIC Gabriel Adaji and IC Innocent Akegbe, were killed by policemen in similar questionable circumstances.
The union said, “We vehemently insist that no policeman or other security officer has any right to shoot or even point a gun at another who has not violated any law of the land. Any act to the contrary must be checked, as it is criminal and portends grave implications for the society.  And all culprits should be promptly apprehended and punished to deter others from treading the same unholy path. A stitch in time saves nine.”
They also said, “We feel particularly concerned because we believe that the presence of security operatives at such a trouble spot, irrespective of their respective agencies, should boost efforts to secure the nation’s pipelines from vandals.  Unfortunately the contrary appears to be the case, and one wonders if security operatives are meant to shield the vandals.”

“Or what else are we to make of a situation where officers of a particular security arm confront those from other arms in such spots and tell them that they are encroaching into “their territory?”  If their motives were right, should those antagonistic policemen not have welcomed the presence of officers who came from sister agencies to offer assistance in checking the activities of pipeline vandals and oil thieves?’’ the union said.