Some socio-cultural groups in the country on Thursday warned against extra-judicial killing and police brutality during the rescheduled general elections.
They asked the police and other security agencies that would be involved in the election process to see themselves as part of the larger society whose interest and peace should be promoted.
The groups’ warning trailed the threat by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Mr. Joseph Ibu, that the police would kill 20 civilians in place of one policeman killed.
But the groups asked the police to demonstrate robust tolerance even if provoked, instead of turning their weapons against the civilians.
A pan-Yoruba organisation, the Afenifere Renewal Group, particularly warned the police against impartiality and intimidation of hapless civilians during the polls.
According to the group, such practices can create a platform for breakdown of law and order.
The ARG Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kunle Famoriyo, said the police should complement the effort of the civilians who are interested in making the conduct of the elections peaceful by ensuring that their lives are protected.
Famoriyo, who spoke withSaturday PUNCHon the telephone, said the police or any other security agency that spilled the blood of any law-abiding Nigerian during the polls would be held responsible for the act.
He said, “From the look of things, it appears that the police and the military are going to make the election tension-soaked.
“A lot of Nigerians are determined to vote, but they are asking the security personnel not to intimidate them; the police and the military should endeavour to shun the repeat of what they rehearsed during the last governorship election in Ekiti State. They did something similar to it in Osun State, but the people resisted them and went out to vote.
“The security agencies should be held responsible for anything that will prevent peaceful election in Nigeria because they have the history of intimidation in Ekiti and Osun states.”
Also, the Founder of Oodua People’s Congress, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, asked the police to first appreciate the fact that they swore to an oath to protect the citizens and their property while supervising the elections.
Fasehun said, “In as much as they are Nigerians and swore to protect the rights and property of the citizens, they are duty-bound to remain impartial no matter the number of attempts to induce them.
“They should not be seen favouring one party or candidate against the other; they should be meticulous in handling sensitive issues to prevent violence.”
The Northern apex group, Arewa Consultative Forum, not only backed the call on the police to limit their role to the protection of law and order, it said the military had no responsibility in the electoral process.
ACF spokesperson, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim, asked all the policemen that would be deployed in the supervision of the elections to live up to the comment by the IGP, Mr. Suleiman Abba, that they were adequately prepared to discharge their duty professionally..http://www.punchng.com/news/poll-arg-acf-others-warn-police-against-extra-judicial-killing/

I pray 4 them make them hear....naija police bad gan ni

I tink disz cool... They've got to warn damn. Their hands is always scratching em, dy jst shoot anyhw.