•Police probe alleged killing of monarch

Molly Kilete, Abuja

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has granted an approval for the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to audit the detention cells in all police commands and formations including those of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The exercise, according to the Head, Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), Abayomi Shogunle, would take the NHCR to all detention cells across the country.

Shogunle, who made the disclosure in a statement in Abuja, said the audit would enable the NHRC oversee the human rights situation of detainees as well as undertake general audit of the state of police detention facilities (cells).

According to him, “this exercise is part of the NHRC 2018 audit of police detention centres in Nigeria. The NHRC had urged the Federal Government to review the pre-trial detention system, alleging excessive use of force and abuse of the practice in Nigeria.

“The PCRRU was established by the Police authorities in 2015 with a mandate to receive and resolve cases of professional misconduct brought against officers.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris has approved the request of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to commence an independent audit of detention cells in all police commands and formations in Nigeria including those of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
“These visits will enable the NHRC oversee the human rights situation of detainees as well as undertake general audit of the state of police detention facilities (cells) in the country.

“This exercise is part of the NHRC 2018 audit of police detention centers in Nigeria.”
The NHRC was established by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) ACT, 1995 as amended to deal with all matters relating to promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State command has commenced investigations into the killing of Igwe Steven Nwatu, traditional ruler of Ogbozinne autonomous community, Akpugo, Nkanu West Local Government Area.

he command’s spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, who disclosed this in Enugu yesterday, described the killing as unfortunate and barbaric.

Amaraizu said the command would never fold its hands and allow the alleged perpetrators of the dastard act go scot-free.

The monarch was allegedly murdered by some of his subjects on Monday over protracted town union leadership tussle said to have lasted for more than 10 years.

Over 200 houses were allegedly torched by a group in the community loyal to the monarch.
Amarizu said the command had put in place mechanisms to track down the perpetrators.
“We have launched an investigation into the unfortunate and barbaric incident. The command has also launched a massive manhunt for the penetrators of the crime.

“They will not go scot-free and I believe sooner or later they will definitely be in police net over this sacrilege they have committed,’’ he said.

The spokesman, however, said the command had deployed some officers and men to the community and returned normalcy there.

“As I speak, we have both uniformed and plain-clothed officers as well as investigators in the community,’’ he said.