The All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] received the news of the shooting of a salesgirl, Lucy Ukpong, in Apo, by a policeman from the FCT Special Anti-robbery Squad last weekend, with shock. It is, however, an encouraging development that the policeman responsible for the shooting has been detained by the Criminal Investigation Department in the Federal Capital Territory, which is now probing the murder of the deceased. While we condemn this wicked and senseless action by an officer supposed to be upholding the law with tact, humanity and caution, our heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends of Lucy, the unfortunate victim in this unreasonable and wanton human tragedy.
Nevertheless, against the backdrop of series of similar careless and senseless murders perpetrated by irresponsible and unprofessional Nigerian police officers, our great party believes it is not enough to carry out investigations intended to ultimately bring the guilty officers to book. In this vein, we strongly advocate for a thorough retraining and reorientation process in the ranks of the Nigerian Police, aimed at psychologically redirecting them to face the peculiar socio-political atmosphere that is currently pervasive in our dear nation; and also to upgrade their rudimentary knowledge and practice of weapons handling and law-enforcement professional ethics.
We are reminded that during the January 2012 fuel subsidy demonstrations, a police officer shot and killed a youth at Somolu Lagos State. Late last year, a teenager was shot in Bayelsa at a police checkpoint for criticizing the officers on duty. Also, just a couple of months ago, a Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja sentenced an ex-police corporal to death by hanging, three years after firing bullets that killed a three-year old girl at Alapere, Ketu; he was dismissed from the force after facing an orderly room trial before being charged for murder. The ANPP recognizes the immense pressure that our policemen are under everyday while in the course of their national duty; however, we believe that the service of the nation is the service of the people. No government assignment, function, or functionary, is more important that the ordinary citizen in the street.
Signed:
Hon Emma Eneukwu
National Publicity Secretary
ANPP
16-10-12
