Lagos Shootings: IGP, Sanwo-Olu Meet To Improve Police/Citizens’ Relationship
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have met to discuss possible approches to achieve speedy justice for the victims of the recent shooting incidents in the State.
The Police Chief and the Lagos State Governor held talks Thursday at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja.
TheFact Daily recalls the gruesome killing on Christmas day, of a Lagos based lawyer, Barrister Omobolanle Raheem, by a trigger-happy Assistant Superintendent of Police, who has since been recommended for suspension by the IGP. The incident took place in the Ajah area of Lagos.
Similarly, on Wednesday 7 December, a 31-year-old man, Gafaru Buraimoh of Land Estate, Ajah, was also fatally wounded by a stray bullet from the firearm of a police officer attached to Ajah Divisional Police of the Lagos State Command. The Police officer, along with his colleagues, angered by fuel black marketers resisting arrest, began shooting sporadically when a bullet hit Buraimoh who was stepping out of a shopping mall.
IGP Baba, while extending his heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased, reassured that the cases would be meticulously pursued until deserved justice is served. He further stressed that the Force is working with the Attorney-General of Lagos State to ensure that the offenders are diligently prosecuted in Courts of competent jurisdiction to serve as a deterrent to others.
Governor Sanwo-Olu in his response promised to support the Police in making sure that justice is served in the extant case and to collaborate with the Police on advocacy programmes to educate the citizenry on understanding and respecting the laws of the land for an improved relationship with the Police.
He similarly stressed that his administration will partner with the Police to carry out refresher courses, training, and retraining, and other evaluation processes for police officers in all facets of policing duties.
He equally advocated for the provision of some equipment such as body cameras and non-lethal weapons among others to curb excessive use of powers and boost good police/citizens relationships.
The Inspector-General of Police therefore charged all officers to imbibe absolute respect for rule of law and the fundamental rights of all persons, which is the crux and fulcrum of policing services, even as he urged members of the public to cooperate with police officers for seamless collaborative efforts to stamp out crimes and criminality in the Nigerian society.
