A TEXT OF A MEDIA BRIEFING ON FEBRUARY
19TH 2020 BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA)
“Hopefully someday in the distant
future, it will be possible for the nation to regain the respect of the world
in its democratic claims. “
(Professor Wole
Soyinka.)
Gentlemen
of the media, we are here to inform the Nigerian government through you the
members of the fourth estate of realm that human rights situation in Nigeria
has deteriorated requiring the immediate
DECLARATION OF A NATIONAL STATE
OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND NATIONAL SECURITY EMERGENCY BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI (
GCFR). It would seem that we have reached the precipice and if emergency
measures are not adopted them national doom is inevitable.
To
show you how bad the situation is , the Nigeria police force has lost its
constitutionally required potency to prevent violent crimes just as most police
officers are basically concerned with other duties but policing Nigeria and
Nigerians . The level of professionalism in the NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE HAS
DRAMATICALLY NOSEDIVED AND INDISCIPLINE HAS BECOME A COMMON CURRENCY OF
CIRCULATION AMONGST THE RANKS, FIKE AND OFFICERS CADRES OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE
FORCE. GENTLEMEN, THERE IS INDEED FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN AND INSTEAD OF RUNNING
AWAY WE MUST ALL PUT OUT THIS FIRE. Two STATES OF THE FEDERATION NAMELY ENUGU AND
KOGI ARE THE MOST AFFECTED ON THE ISSUE OF BREAKDOWN OF PROFESSIONALISM AMONGST
THE PILICE FORCE AND UNFORTUNATELY THE POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION IS MORIBUND
ABD NOT RESPONSIVE TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES OF ENFORCING DISCIPLINE. PSC is more concerned ABOUT PROMOTIONS AND
THERE ARE WIDESPREAD ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBES FIR PROMOTIONS WHICH MUST BE
INVESTIGATED BY AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY IF WR ARE
DESIROUS OF FINDING LASTING SOLUTIOBS TO
THE SECURITY AND PILICING NIGHTMARES AFFECTING NIGERIA.
In
Enugu State we got a report of a certain assistant commissioner of Police who
is allegedly deep neck into confrontations with land owners in a lot of
communities in ENUGU including Obeagu, Awkunanaw amongst others. As we said previously, petitions against this
gentleman were sent to us and we forwarded to PSC but PSC is almost moribund.
This
Assistant Commissioner Of police has allegedly served in Enugu state for over
two Decades and is said to have worked with more than two governors as their chief
security detail. We forwarded petitions sent to us by some persons in Enugu to
the Police service commission ( PSC). However, another group has approached is
with a counter petition although verbally exonerating the ACP but we have asked
that group to put their defence into writing so we similarly forward to PSC
hoping that justice; equity and fairness would be done to the communities and
the police Assistant commissioner being accused of depriving people of the LAND
RIGHTS.
However,
I have personally come under considerable pressure by persons who have asked
that we drop the case against the assistant commissioner of police in Enugu
state who is said to have over stayed his deployment in Enugu but stays on
because he is connected even though a group praised him for arresting many
kidnappers.
We
understand that this show of desperation by these persons mounting pressure on
us may lead to threat to our lives. But may we inform them that we have no
personal issues with the Said ACP.
Clear
conscience fears no accusations.
Gentlemen,
looking at the picture of policing in every part of Nigeria, we can sadly say that policing has failed
spectacularly in Nigeria and with the collapse come the wanton violations of
human rights including RIGHT TO LIFE. Now in Nigeria, LIFE IS CHEAP. ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR IN THE SEAT OF POWER HAS JUST BEEN KILLED CLINICALLY BY ASSASINS IN A
WAY THAT SHOWS THAT THERE IS MORE TO IT. CHRISTIAN CLERICS ARE TARGETS OF
KIDNAPPERS WHO ARE MOSTLY THOUGHT TO BE ARMED FULANI HERDSMEN AND FOREIGN
HERDERS WHO ENTER THROUGH OUR BORDERS AND WONT BE STOPPED BECAUSE THE INTERNAL
SECURITY ARCHITECTURE IS DOMINATED BY PERSONS OF SAME ETHNICITY AND RELIGION TO
THESE INVADERS. PLATEAU STATE AND SOUTHERN KADUNA KNOWN FOR BEING STRONGHOLDS
OF CHRISTIANITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA ARE WORST AFFECTED LEADING US TO ASK IF THERE
IS A SYSTEMATIC GENICIDE HOING ON.
The
SOUTH EAST OF NIGERIA IS ALSO ON THE SECURITY SPOTLIGHTS.
We
recently undertook two weeks tour of the south east of Nigeria and what we discovered saddened our hearts. Statistically,
what we saw indicates that over 97% of the communities in the south east of
Nigeria are without any form of policing institutions. WE CHALLENGE THE STATE
COMMISSIONERS OF POLICE TO PUBLISH THE DIVISIONAL POLICE OFFICES IN THE SOUTH
EAST STATES AND TELL NIGERIANS HOW MANY POLICE OPERATIVES WORK THERE.
We
found our to our chagrin that the people of these SOUTH EASTERN communities are
left on their own just as police operatives often are attached to state
capitals and road blocks extorting passengers and drivers. Millions of IGBO
PEOPLE HAVE NO FORM OF PROTECTION AND THE POLITICIANS WHO ENJOY ALL THE
SECURITY COVERS HAVE FAILED TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE. THIS IS LIKE
SETTING OUT A PEOPLE FOR GENOCIDE. SOUTH EAST LEADERS PARTICULARLY TRADITIONAL;
YOUTHS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS MUST TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT ATTACKS AGAINST THEIR
PEOPLE BECAUSE THE RIGHT TO LIFE IS SACROSANCT.
In the
last couple of months, over 100 passengers traveling from south east to the
north have been attacked by suspected terrorists , armed Fulani herdsmen and
kidnappers and police in those states in the east and middle belt states of
Kogi, Benue, Kaduna are not efficient and Effective enough to check the trend
of kidnapping , just as a lot of these
kidnappings hoodlums are armed and are out and about with their smooth
operations in active conspiratorial partnership and collusion with many rogue elements in the security forces.
Because
of the fact that policing in most parts of Nigeria has collapsed, Human rights
situation has deteriorated abysmally requiring as we said earlier a declaration
of a state of Emergency.
We
condemn the south east Governors for failures due to political cowardice to
follow the great footsteps of south west Governors to set up south east
security initiative. SOUTH EAST OF NIGERIA NEEDS REGIONAL SECURITY INITIATIVE
NOW.
Since
regular policing has failed, is it the so called community policing that will
not fail?
Let
us stop the grand deception and take steps to protect the citizens.
HURIWA
believes that the time is due for every region; states and Local councils to
set up armed and well paid security platforms because Nigeria is under a big
National security emergency. As they say, NO ARMY IN THE WHOLE WORLD CAN DEFEAT
AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME. THIS IS THE TIME TO PUT UP STRONG RESISTANCE
AGAINST MASS MURDERERS WHO AS WE KNOW ARE OPERATING FREELY AND THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
DOES NOTHING BUT ISSUE FRIVOLOUS MEDIA RELEASES THAT ARE PROVOCATIVE AND
SIMPLISTIC. The Nigerian Police Force is
grounded in the constitution but it has been sabotaged leading to abysmal
collapse.
If
we read S.215 of the 1999 constitution we will know that it provides for an
inspector general of the police who shall be appointed by the president of the
Federal republic of Nigeria on the advice of The Nigeria police council from
among serving members of the Nigeria force. Sec.215(1)(b)7 also provides for Commissioners
of police for each states of the federation who shall be appointed by the
police service commission. POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION IS CURRENTLY EMBROILED IN
A FIGHT WITH IGP FOR SUPERIORITY ON WHO SHOUP RECRUIT POLICE AND NOT ON WHO
SHOULD INSTIL PROFESSIONALISM AND DISCIPLINE. THIS ROFORO FIGHT IS REPLICATED
AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS BETWEEN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER GENERAL MONGUNO AND THE
ALL POWERFUL CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE PRESIDENT. THESE INFIGHTINGS ARE DERAILING
THE COUNTERTERROR WAR AND POSE GRAVE DANGER TO NATIONAL SECURITY. WE WILL GIVE
YOUBDETAILS LATER BASED ON AVAILABLE INFORMATION.
The
extant statutes say the Command of the Nigeria Police force shall be under the
command of the inspector general of
Police and contingents of the police force stationed in the States,
shall subject to the authority of the Inspector General of the Police be under
the command of the police of that state and as we read from diverse literatures
on policing in Nigeria we will find out that there is CENTRALITY IN THE COMMAND
STRUCTURE OF THE NPF AND AS I SPEAK THE COMMAND STRUCTURE IS DOMINATED BY THE
NORTH. THIS IS UNJUST AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
The
Nigerian constitution says the
president or such other minister
of the Government of the federation may give the IGP such ‘lawful directions
with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order
as he may consider necessary, and the IGP shall comply with those directions or
cause them to be complied with.
The
Nigeria police council may, with the approval of the president, delegates its
powers to the IGP or the Nigeria police force.
The
truth is that Nigeria police force is no longer a potent force for good. Police
has constituted a grave threat to NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS OF NIGERIA.
There
has to be deliberate policy to address these problems of failures of national
Security.
HURIWA
is by this briefing, urging the president and the National Assembly to wake up.
The
states in Nigeria must set up FEDERAL HIGHWAYS police/ military protection and
patrol troops to confront the rising incidence of kidnappings. Kogi/ Kaduna federal
highways have become kidnappers den and police is nowhere near enough to crack
this disturbing security phenomenon because most of these police operative are
allegedly involved in the MULTIBILLION DOLLAR FRANCHISE OF KIDNAPPINGS FOR CASH
RANSOM PAYMENTS.
On
the failure of Human rights sector, We blame President MUHAMMADU BUHARI for
disabling the National Human rights Commission.
NATIONAL
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION is now a toothless bulldog and is administered like a
typical civil service institution without the legally guaranteed independency
and for three years , President Buhari has refused to reconstitute the
governing council.
The
Police Detention facilities all across Nigeria must be opened up to credible
civil society groups to monitor welfare of detainees because cases of
extralegal killings are high.
We
advocate the setting up of Human rights departments in the departments of state
services ( DSS) , EFCC, ICPC and the restoration of a functioning Human rights
departments in the Police to check Abuses of Human rights and to train
operatives to stop the wide spread use of torture and Arbitrary Executions of
crime suspects.
We
urge President Buhari and the National Assembly to invoke the constitutional
provision allowing military training and the use of Fire arms for all law
Abiding young Nigerians even as we call for the liberalization of ownership of
gun licenses.
Nigerians
need to be Alive first to speak of human rights which in any event are
inevitable and sacred. MASS KILLERS NEED NO REHABILITATION BUT PROSECUTION AND
SANCTIONS JUST AS WE NEED TO FORTIFY SECURITY AROUND OUR PRISONS TO HOUSE MASS
KILLERS.
President
Buhari should stop official impunity from spreading.
If a
functionary of government fail to carry out his or her duties especially that
of preventing / or reducing violent killings, there must be consequences .
We
can’t continue keeping heads of different security institutions in the states
whereby kidnappings , terrorists attacks and wide spread violence are going on.
Fire and prosecute Commissioners of police and heads of DSS offices in the
states whereby VIOLENT CRIMES ESCALATE.
A
while ago this is what the press reported thus: Again, NSA Monguno attacks Abba
Kyari over police equipment contract.
The
story goes thus: A lucrative contract
for the procurement of defence equipment for the Nigeria Police Force appeared
to have triggered the raging confrontation at the highest levels of the Buhari
administration, PREMIUM TIMES has reported.
Freshly
obtained documents showed how the national security adviser, Babagana Monguno,
tackled President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of staff, Abba Kyari, for allegedly
overriding a previous directive of the president in a contract to procure
equipment for the police from the United Arab Emirates.
In
the December 9, 2019 letter that was addressed to the police affairs minister
and police inspector-general, Mr Monguno, a retired major-general, described Mr
Kyari’s action as “reckless and irresponsible”, warning that it was capable of
ridiculing Nigeria as an unserious nation before a reliable international
partner.
Mr
Monguno warned in the letter that Mr Kyari has been getting away with
disregarding presidential orders to impose his own decisions — even though he
had no constitutional power to issue directives on matters bordering on
security. The NSA said only himself, as the head of multiple national security panels
and the defence minister have constitutional roles to act on security matters.
The
documents appeared a part of a series of circulars issued between Mr Monguno
and Mr Kyari between May and December 2019.
The
first part of the documents to leak was first published by PREMIUM TIMES on
Monday afternoon. It detailed how Mr Monguno accused Mr Kyari of hampering
efforts to resolve insecurity in the country, sparking nationwide uproar and
call for the president to take charge of his administration’s security
measures.
The
first memo also carried the same December 9, 2019 date, but was addressed to
all crucial offices of national security coordination. The latest memo appeared
to have been sent to inform the police affairs minister and the
inspector-general on the background of the equipment and how Mr Kyari might be
frustrating the procurement process.
It
was not immediately clear which equipment were being procured by the Buhari
administration from the Emirati, but Mr Monguno disclosed that the
International Golden Group, a Dubai-based defence and security dealer, was the
firm agreed between Mr Buhari and the UAE Crown Prince in 2016, the memo
showed.
Neither
the president nor anyone in his cabinet has commented on the crisis at the
presidency since Monday. Mr Kyari and two presidential spokespersons, Femi Adesina
and Garba Shehu, rejected requests for comments on the memo Monday afternoon.
They also did not return similar requests based on the latest documents that
shed additional light into the rancor.
GENTLEMEN
DO WE NEED TO REPEAT THAT SACKING SERVICE CHIEFS IS NOT THE SOLUTION BUT
FISHING OUT SABOTEAURS OF THE COUNTER TERROR WAR WHO ARE INSIDERS IN
GOVERNMENT? THE PRESIDENT MUST DISMISS
SABOTEAURS WHO ARE OBSTRUCTING THE WAR ON TERROR. WE COMMEND THE NSA FOR HIS
UNCOMMON HEROISM EVEN NOT MINDING WHETHER HE WILL SIRVIVE THIS EXPLOSIVE
REVELATION. POSTERITY WILL BE GRATEFUL TO HIM THAT HE SPOKE OUT WHEN IT MATTERS
MOST. BUHARI PLEASE STOP THESE KILLINGS AND STOP THE EXCUSES. WE ARE
TIRED. I thank you for listening.
COMRADE Emmanuel Onwubiko;
NATIONAL
COORDINATOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION
No comments:
Post a Comment