Posted by By Joe Nwankwo, Abuja. on
The issue of extra-judicial killing by men of the Nigeria Police Force has been on the front burner of national discourse for quite some time.
The issue of extra-judicial killing by men of the Nigeria Police Force has been on the front burner of national discourse for quite some time.
In 2006 alone, statistics from Civil Society Groups (CSOs) show that the nation has suffered over 2000 extra judicial murders allegedly committed by men of the nation's police force.
And for the family of late Dr. Sarafadeen Shittu, a 45-year-old Medical Doctor and Managing Partner of Stevan Hospital and Maternity, along Jabi Raod, Abuja, October 3, 2006 would remain indelible in their minds as their bread-winner was shot dead by armed robbers clad allegedly in police uniform.
According to the family's lawyer, Mr. A.A Muhammad, in a petition to the Inspector General of Police dated October 3, 2006 "At about 0320 hours, armed robbers in ‘police uniform' who have been ravaging Airport Road, Jabi Junction Area of Abuja invaded the area again and this time they entered the house of Dr. Sarafadeen Shittu.
"Dr. Shittu woke up together with other people in the compound for the usual Muslim tradition of preparing food for ‘SU'UR' as it was during the Ramadan fast."
Muhammad stated that there was suddenly a gun-shot and the gate to the compound swung open and people began to run helter skelter for their lives:
"Dr Shittu was shot and died instantly with his body immediately taken away by the robbers in ‘police' uniform. It was however surprising that the same robbers in police uniform claimed that the deceased was an armed robber, an armed robber in his own house?."
Muhammed further stated that the same robbers in "police uniform" had a few weeks before the incident raided the house of the deceased, stole his valuables, adding that the robbery incident was reported at the Life Camp Police Station.
He pointed out that the robbery incident prompted the deceased, with the approval of the police, to engage the services of two night guards. The guards he said were arrested by the "robbers in uniform and are presently in their custody".
Muhammed called for a proper and thorough investigation of the alleged murder so as to bring the culprits to book.
He said that although the body of the husband of two wives and father of three children had been released to the family for burial, the family could not forget the humiliation and trauma they went through when the 'robbers in police uniform" dragged the body of the medical practitioner and paraded it as an armed robber.
While also calling for an unreserved apology, the lawyer also demanded adequate compensation for the family for the loss of their breadwinner, noting, however, that no amount of money for the life of the deceased.
Contacted, the Police spokesman, Commissioner of Police Haz Iwendi, acknowledged receipt of the petition from the lawyer for the family of the deceased A.A Muhammad, assuring that the Inspector-General of Police[IGP], Mr. Sunday Ehindero, has ordered a full-scale investigation of the matter, promising that all those found guilty would be brought to book.
'Let me assure you that the police high command is committed to the eradication of bad eggs in the force," Iwendi added.