July 12, 2018

The Inspector General of Police,
Force Headquarters,
Abuja, Nigeria.

Through;
The Commissioner of Police,
Kaduna State Police Command,
Bida Road, Kaduna
Kaduna State.

Dear Sir,


PROTEST LETTER AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY, ABDICATION OF DUTY, AND IMPUNITY IN EKITI STATE AND OTHER PARTS OF NIGERIA.

We write on behalf of the entire members of our party in Kaduna State and other lovers of peace and Democracy in Nigeria.

We have been in total shock and dismay as regards the events of July 11, 2018 in Ekiti State. We have never imagined that in the 21st Century, and after fifteen years of getting rid of military dictatorship in Nigeria we will still be experiencing a situation whereby a sitting governor will be assaulted, molested, harassed and embarrassed by the men of Nigeria Police.

 The assault, molestation, inhuman and degrading treatment mated on the people of Ekiti State and Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State by men of Nigeria Police on July 11, 2018 is despicable, condemnable and unacceptable under any civilized enviroment.
Even a common criminal deserves better treatment under chapter IV of our 1999 constitution (as amended) let alone a sitting Governor who is clothed with immunity under Section 308 of the 1999 constitution  of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

We urge you to note that pursuant to Section 4 of the Police Act CAP P19 LFN 2004, the duties of the police are “…the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged…” . Thus we cannot accept a situation whereby a body set up for this purpose will turn around and be the main threat to law, order, lives and property. This is very embarrassing to our country, our democracy and our collective conscience as Nigerians.

The events of July 11 2018 in Ekiti State become more disturbing when one considers the fact that the events are occurred at a time when thousands of lives are being lost in Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, Benue, Kaduna and almost every part of Nigeria on account of avoidable insecurity. If the force exhibited on innocent unarmed civilians in Ekiti State had been applied by the Nigerian Police on violent criminals all over the country, we would have been better for it.  Indeed the services of a professional Police force has never been this desperately needed ever since the civil war. Instead we noticed with dismay how this essential need of Nigerians is jettisoned in a bid to satisfy politicians in power.

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Going forward, we expect that the Nigerian Police Force under your command will exhibit the highest form of responsibility in the Saturday 14th July 2018 Ekiti gubernatorial election and all other subsequent democratic processes in the entire country.

While we reiterate our commitment to International best practices of Democratic Ideals, we hereby categorically state that we will no longer tolerate a partisan Police Force whether in Ekiti State or any part of Nigeria. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to safeguard, protect and enhance Nigeria’s democracy.

Thank you.

Signed:
Hon. Felix Hassan Just,
State Chairman, PDP, KDS