Friday, 14 May 2021: A lot of Nigerian police officers have been harassed and killed at the point of duty and no reasonable action seems to be taken to adequately suppress it and avert further occurrence by the authorities concerned.

The ENDSARS protest opened up the various atrocities being perpetrated by police officers but it must be noted that not all Police officers are part of this, there are good ones committed to performing their duties, officers who are interested in public good and not personal gains.

According to findings made by CEOAFRICA, in the past six years, not less than 497 police officers were killed in different parts of the country.

This week, unidentified gunmen attacked police formations and killed a policeman attached to the Etim Ekpo Area Command in Akwa Ibom State.

The gunmen also attacked another station in Ika Council, it was gathered that they burnt the Godswill Akpabio Unity Hall in Essien Udim Council.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Odiko MacDon in Uyo, the armed men also attacked the Ika Police Station, but police officers repelled them.

Commissioner of Police (CP), Amiengheme Andrew, urged law-abiding citizens to volunteer information that would help the police to tackle the security challenges.

“This brings the number of slain policemen in various attacks on police formations in Akwa Ibom State in the last six weeks to 22.

“In the coordinated attacks, several stations have been razed and patrol vehicles burnt in stations at Essien Udim, Ika, Ikono, Ini, Abak and Etim Ekpo councils, being border areas,” he said.

In Rivers State, police stations and security checkpoints have become the targets of these unknown gunmen, at least seven Nigerian police officers were killed in a night of attacks in the Southern oil hub of Rivers State.
The attackers opened fire on a checkpoint, then drove on to hit two police stations, police officers fired back, killing two of the raiders and injuring some of the others, who escaped in a stolen car.

Gunmen also attacked Ozubulu community in Ekwusigo local government of Anambra state. The state police command PRO said the attack happened around 7pm on 9th May, 2021, it was gathered that some hoodlums also attacked the Anambra Vigilante office in Ozubulu.

On 22nd October 2020, CEOAFRICA gathered that suspected hoodlums in Abayomi area of Iwo road in Ibadan, Oyo state, burnt two policemen alive and ate their flesh. The hoodlums chased the policemen from the New Gbagi market area, alleging that the police van had hit a commercial motorcyclist.

The police in Ebonyi State, Nigeria’s South-east, have confirmed the killing of three of their operatives by gunmen in Abakaliki, the state capital.

The Deputy Superintendent of police, Ms. Loveth Odah, disclosed that the officers were shot dead at a checkpoint on Onuebonyi/ Nwezenyi Road, Abakaliki.

Ms. Odah, stated that the suspects, who pretended to be holding a burial rite, drove round the area in a tricycle before opening fire on the police officer.

Ebonyi, has also experienced an increase in attacks on police officers and police facilities.
In January, some gunmen invaded a police station in Onueke, Ezza South Local Government Area of the state, and killed three police officers. The gunmen also stole two rifles from the station, just like other invasions.

In October, 2020, some hoodlums attacked a police station in Abakaliki, shot a police inspector and then savagely cut off his manhood, before they took off with his rifle.

Hours after, the hoodlums regrouped, re-invaded the station and set it ablaze, including several vehicles that were parked as exhibits at the station’s premises.

Five police officers were killed by unknown gunmen in an attack at the Okigwe South zonal area command in Ehime-Mbano council area in Imo State, Nigeria’s South-east. A police officer was also abducted by the gunmen during the attack.

A witness said that the gunmen broke into the police facility, took over the armory, and freed detainees at the station.

Some police officers who attempted to resist the gunmen were overrun, it was gathered that some families fled the community as a result of the panic, the attack caused among residents.

Some members of the Police Community/Public Relations Committee in Ibadan, Oyo state capital told CEOAFRICA that government and all those concerned need to ensure that something is done to put an end to the killing and harassment of police officers.

If nothing is done about this, Nigeria will continue to lose committed police officers and it will make the system porous, which will lead to a state of anarchy in the country.  

Observers is of the opinion that necessary governmental agencies including the Police Service Commission, the police management board, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Federal Executive Council to do the needful to protect the sanctity of lives among officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force.

If the security system is being challenged and attacked incessantly it will make our society conducive for criminals and this could lead to a state of anarchy in the country.