Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) under the auspicies of the Joint Civil Society Action Against Extra Judicial Killings (JCSAAEJK) has given the Inspector General of Police (IGP) a two-day ultimatum to ensure justice for slained officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) ASC Ogah Ochigbo Jumbo, by men of the Police Force.
Addressing a press conference held on the hashtag #Justice 4 Ogah Ochigbo Jumbo on Monday in Abuja, its Co-Convener Paul Edeh Esq. condemned in totality the spate of recent extra judicial killings by men of the Nigerian Police Force, noting in particular the families of ASC Ogah Ochigbo Jumbo, Kolade Johnson, Ada Ifeanyi and Emmanuel Akomofua saying this has become the order of the day today in Nigeria.
Late ASC Jumbo on March 20, 2019, in company of his wife and two sons from their home in New Nyanya, Nasarawa State, with the aim of dropping off his wife and children in their school at Karu Site, a suburb in Abuja and proceed thereafter to his office at Apo, also in the Nation’s capital when the incident that led to his death happened.
Edeh lamented the lackadaisical manner the death has been handled by the Police Force and the NSCDC, expressing disapointment that an autopsy report showed he was tortured to death while the police told the public he only slumped and died a natural death.
“A day after the murder of Ogah, the Police Public Relations Officer ASP Frank Mba issued a statement on behalf of the Nigerian Police Force that Ogah slumped while being interrogated and died a natural death.
Pray tell, the autopsy report has a different tale to tell.
“Our independent findings reveal that the narrative of the incidence leading to the death of Ogah as set out by the Nigerian Police Force is false and misleading. Hence, it is necessary to establish the truth and inform Nigerians about our findings whilst demanding that the Police Force owns up to the truth and apologize to Nigerians for the misleading narrative put out there,” he said.
The conference therefore called on the IGP to immediately set up a committee of enquiry to investigate the killing and hold those responsible culpable so as to checkmate any further reoccurrence.
“The Inspector General of Police should constitute a Commission of Inquiry to investigate all cases of extra judicial killings by officers of the Nigerian Police Force across Nigeria and met-out commensurate sanctions based on the report of the Commission of Inquiry, as well as prosecute any police officer found culpable in the killing of innocent Nigerian(s) to serve as a deterrent to other officers.
“We demand that Mr. Igekele Ogunfemi the Divisional Police Officer of Nyanya Police Station and his men involved in beating ASC Ogah Jumbo to death be arrested, investigated and prosecuted along with the two Police men said to be in Police custody,” he said.
“We also demand that the Autopsy Report of ASC Ogah Jumbo be published within 24 hours for Nigerians to know the real cause of death of Mr Ogah Jumbo, and the Nigerian Police Force to tender unreserved apology for the false information presented by ACP Frank Mba in his press conference of 21st March 2019.
“The Ag. IGP should also immediately pay a condolence visit to the widow of Ogah Jumbo to commensurate with her over the brutal killing of her husband,” he said.
Co-convener Aisha Yusufu called on all Nigerians to see themselves as victims of police brutality and join their voices to the demand for a renewed action towards ensuring justice for the murdered officer.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe Esq, has expressed worry that the nation is further being threatened by those sadled with the responaibility to ensure peace.
“They didnt respect that he was a fellow uniform man, if a uniform man can be killed by a fellow uniform man this shows that we are not safe. Who kills a man in front of his wife and children? It is also a failure on the NSCDC for not making a single statement since this incidence and we demand to know their stand on this issue,” he stated.
