The Coalition of Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has raised alarmed over what its described as a “worry the spate of excessive use of firearms by members of our disciplined forces at both the federal and state levels in recent times”.
This concern came on the heels of recent media report of DSS operatives who allegedly killed policemen. Just a few days after unarmed members of Shi’tes movement were killed by the military officers attached to the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Burutai in Zaira, Kaduna State.
The report had it that two policemen namely Sergeant Sylvester Malik and Corporal Mough Tergwu, of the Special Protection Unit and attached to the former Executive Secretary of the National Insurance Scheme, Dr. Femi Thomas, were shot at point blank by operatives of the DSS right there in the Ado-Ekiti premises of the state security agency.
Dr. Femi Thomas, accompanied by his aforementioned security aides, was reported to have been escorted into the DSS office by some men of the agency. Trouble allegedly started when the two policemen refused to be disarmed by the agency personnel; an argument ensued which led to the shooting of the policemen, leaving one dead and the other seriously wounded.
The wounded policeman is said to be receiving treatment at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti. The newspaper again did a follow-up on the story in its edition of Thursday, 17th December 2015 in which it reported that the authority of the DSS appeared to be foot-dragging over the release of their alleged killer personnel to the police for necessary actions.
The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran lamented the development saying, “It is fast becoming a serious cause for worry the spate of excessive use of firearms by members of our disciplined forces at both the federal and state levels in recent times. Almost on daily basis, it’s been one report of unprovoked brutality, torture, killing or the other”.
He said, “To these mindless, lawless elements in uniform, human life has no value and so commands no respect. While the average military personnel seemingly believes he’s licensed to kill, at will, any ‘bloody civilian’ on the slightest provocation, the average policeman sees himself as being above the law as he tortures, brutalizes and even kill any accused person or anyone he chooses to frame up on any trumped-up criminal charge.
Members of the Customs and Excise have become gods to themselves; allowing free passage to the big-time smugglers who are ever ready to ‘play ball’ but kill and maim the small fries who couldn’t meet their outrageous corrupt demands”.
Both the print and electronic media is daily awash with reports like this virtually on daily basis and despite promises by authorities concerned, to check these excesses, these uncivilized, primitive and inhuman acts had remained on the increase.
CACOL, however, would want the authority of the DSS and indeed other relevant authorities, to see to it that this particular case is exhaustively investigated, addressed and culprits dealt with in accordance with the laws of this country, if only to serve as deterrent to others like them who through their uncivil acts, tend to drag the image of this country in the mud, thus making it a laughing stock among the comity of nations.
We shouldn’t allow our nation to be turned into a banana republic where law and order are non-existent. If this could happen to serving policemen, one can only imagine how many defenseless civilians have been victims of similar callous acts” the group’s Executive Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran declared.
He also enjoined the media to do a keen follow-up on the story and report every progress made with sequential accuracy. He noted that matters like this are often swept under the carpet because of lack of proper follow-up on them.
