March 31, 2019

"Please don't kill my father; leave my father alone". His little kid pleaded. Now he is gone. They killed him...   That fateful day; 20th March 2019, Jumbo Ochigbo Ogar, 42, a two-star  officer with the Nigerian civil Defence Corps, had made a wrong U-turn in a hurry to get his wife and children to school. A traffic warden at the junction, simply described as Idoko, flagged him down. He stopped the car but left the car engine running while he tried to explain to the traffic warden that he meant no disrespect, according to his wife.   As the conversation became heated, Jumbo who was dressed in his official uniform turned off his car engine. That appeared to annoy Idoko, who saw Jumbo-Ochigbo's action as proof of defiance. Suddenly, the beating began as another traffic warden charged onto the scene, cursing and railing against Jumbo.   The new acting Inspector General of Police , Mohammed Adamu ordered full investigation of the matter--  Can the Police be trusted? Will this case  go the way of previous investigations that never saw the light of the day? Will the Acting IGP show good example with this case?   It's a known fact that the Nigeria Police hate anything that discredits the force. They find it difficult to admit any wrong doing and they can go to any length to cover up their tracks just to appear good -  they can kill, lie, prefer false charges on innocent citizens just to conceal the truth. But Nigerians know them for who they are.   Already, they've started on this case with lies and pretence - In his press conference; Force PRO - ACP Frank MBA who was not on the scene of the incident says:   " On contravention, the NSCDC officer himself , who was putting on civil shirt on top of his NSCDC trouser, drove himself with the traffic warden officer to the Nyanya Police Station. It was while he was being asked questions and he was responding that he suddenly collapsed."  he said.   But the wife of the deceased, Ada who witnessed the incident along with her two kids said her husband was beaten to death...   " The Police used baton to beat my husband, dragged him out, hit him on the head until he died right in my presence and that of my kids. Look at the bruises on his leg, that was when they were dragging him on the ground." She said.   Former Attorney-General of the federation and minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, reportedly said about seven years ago that the Police alone  had killed 7,108 persons extra-Judicially in four years. Jumbo- Ochigbo is not part of that statistics, Nkechi Igwetu; the woman killed by a Policeman in Abuja while on her National Youth service is also not part of the statistics. Anita Akapson is also not part of Adoke's analysis. She was shot dead the night she relocated from UK to Nigeria by a trigger happy policeman on Sunday 14th October 2018. Friday Nduka - Malaysia returnee killed by a Police officer named Mike Idem is also not part of Adoke's list. David Legbaraa, a bus driver killed by a Policeman at Whimpy Junction in Portharcourt in Rivers State is not on the list as well. The list is endless and most of the cases took place between last year and this year.   Who will deliver us from the atrocities and onslaught of the Nigeria Police? I checked but found non - Emeka Ugwuonye who rose in defence of innocent Nigerians brutalised by the Police; he speak out against the atrocities of the Police but the Police retaliated by roping him into a murder case of a woman he (Emeka has been) fighting since 2016. He is presently remanded in prison custody. He cannot do anything at least for now.   I also checked on the NBA but that group cannot deliver Nigerians from the brutality of the Police - I don't think they can really help. The Nigerian Senate cannot help either as the President of the federal Republic of Nigeria see things differently and view any move from the present senate with suspicion.   In fact the body language of the President condones impunity and abuse of power. Despite our misery and agony at the hands of the Police, despite the Public outcry against the brutality, torture, killings, suppression, lies of the Police; the President appears cool, indifferent and unperturbed.   Today is exactly 11 days since the gruesome murder of Jumbo Ochigbo but the President is yet to react to the unfortunate incident. This is one too many. I doubt if human life worth anything to our president.   On July 2018, social media space was on fire over Ghanian Police officer who was seen in a viral video assaulting a woman clutching her baby in a banking all. It took Ghanaian President - Nana Akufo-Addo, 24-hours to react to the incident...   " I want to say it here, Policemen are meant to protect citizens, not to assault citizens. So the measures the (IGP) of Police has taken to sanction the erring policeman and try to make sure that these things don't happen again - they have my complete support so that we can stop this incident from proliferating."  He said. This was an assault. No life was lost yet the President of Ghana stood and took a definite stand. He did not try to shield the Police officer.   DPA demands Justice for Jumbo Ochigbo. Our leaders should use this case as water shield moment to assure Nigerians that life, all life matters.   Ifeanyi Calistus, Director Of Information DPA.