The incessant killing of Nigerians: Needs for Nigerian Government to totally reform the Police Force

“The way Nigerian Police are killing innocent citizens of this country becoming more alarming every day!
Do Nigerian Police Force has been orientating their men on how to handle a gun at all? I don’t think so, if they have been, there won’t be so much constant killing of innocent Nigerians.
We are being pushed to the point that we will call for the withdrawal of guns from the Police Forces instead they should start using the stick like the India Police Force.
We are all fed up with all these killings. Human beings are not animals. As quoted by BBC “Nigerian security force has killed more people that COVID-19”
It’s time for Police brutality to stop!
#NoToPoliceBrutality” was the tweet of a Twitter user.

Police brutality is one of several forms of police misconduct that involves undue violence by police members. Widespread police brutality exists in many countries and territories, even those that prosecute it. Although illegal, it can be performed under the color of law.

Nigeria’s leading survey and polling firm, NOIPolls says that police brutality on Nigerians is prevalent, citing recent media reports on Nigerian police brutality and the controversy over the death of a Remo Stars Football Club’s player, Tiyamu Kazeem in Sagamu in southwestern Ogun state.

According to the report of its findings on the past poll on “Police Brutality” released on Tuesday in Abuja, 40 percent of Nigerians interviewed reported that they have either been or know someone who has been brutalized by the Nigerian police personnel.

Let us see some of Nigerians that were victims of Police incessant killing,

The killing of Nigeria Professional Football League Club’s player, Remo Stars by SARS operatives

On the 24th of February this year Kazeem Tiamiyu a player of Remo Stars and the assistant captain was arrested by SARS officials, was crushed by a hit-and-run driver after he was allegedly thrown out of a moving vehicle.

His father Fasasi Tiamiyu, the father of Kazeem Tiamiy, Lamented the death of his son, saying the Remo Stars defender was on the verge of sealing a deal in a European club before his demise.

The killing of Anita Akapson in 2018

A young lady named Anita Akapson was reportedly shot dead by a policeman at Katampe Extension on October 13, 2018, by a police officer.

Anita Akapson, a niece of former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman.

According to a police report, she had an encounter with policemen that night.

Then-Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood later confirmed the incident.

The killing of NYSC member, Linda Igwetu

On July 3, 2018, Linda Igwetu, who was a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed to Abuja, was allegedly shot dead by a policeman.

The incident reportedly happened while the victim was on her way home with some friends around 3 am.

She was to complete the NYSC program the next day.

The killing of Federal University of Oye(FUOYE students) in 2019

Two students were killed during a protest by FUOYE over the lack of electricity in their campus
The victims died of gunshot wounds fired by police officers, multiple witnesses said Videos of police officers shooting to disperse the protesters have also been circulated on social media.
The Nigerian police have been blamed for the death of two students during the protest, but have refused to take responsibility.
Rather than arrest and prosecute the shooters, however, the police have been arresting students who allegedly manhandled two of its officers.
Mr. Kehinde, a 100-level student of Crop Science and Horticulture also died from bullets wounds which he sustained on his eyes.

The killing of a Legion Officer

According to reports, Three policemen, simply identified as AK, Patrick, and an unknown officer were on patrol when they sighted Moshood at Kilo Bus Stop, Surulere, stopped him, and started demanding money.

The motorcyclist was allegedly refused to bribe them because he claimed to have closed for the day and was only heading home.

The officers, it was learned, insisted that he must give them money and weren’t listening to anything he was saying.
One of the policemen went to the commercial motorcyclist’s side, point gun to his head and shot him dead.

The killing of a teenager, Hadiyat Sikiru

on Monday, March 18, 2019, an 18- year-old girl, Sikiru, was reportedly shot dead by some policemen in Adamo community, Ikorodu area of Lagos.

It was learned that policemen from Imota Police Division had stormed the community on that fateful day to raid suspected criminal hideouts in the course of which they began to shoot sporadically. Like Kolade, Hadiyat was hit by a stray bullet.

The of killing Kolade Johnson

On Sunday, 21st March 2019 Kolade met his death. On that fateful day, Kolade went to Mangoro/Onipetesi area in Lagos to the football viewing center to watch the English Premier League where there was a match between Tottenham and Liverpool. While watching the match, some policemen from Anti-cultism Unit came looking for someone then suddenly started shooting sporadically. It was discovered by people that the policemen from Imota Police Division came into the community on that Sunday to look for suspected criminal hideouts, that is when the shooting started and their bullet hit Johnson which cut short his life.
It was a death that shook Nigeria as Nigerians took to Twitter to call on Nigeria Government to End a department of the Nigerian Police known as Special Anti Robbery Squad(SARS) with the hashtag #EndSARS.

It’s has been reported today that Police have killed a young man because they were playing football during the lockdown in Ebem Ohafia in Abia.