Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to investigate allegations of Police complicity in the ongoing banditry in Nigeria.
The security agency is alleged to constantly be releasing bandits handed over to them after arrest by communities and other security agencies, thereby frustrating the fight against insecurity in the country.
The Deputy House Speaker, Ahmed Wase had severally informed the House that arrested kidnappers and their collaborators who are handed over to the police, were released without being prosecuted.
Wase who led the debate on a motion of urgent public importance on the recent attack in a village in his constituency, said even his personal efforts as Deputy Speaker of the House failed to yield results as those arrested were released by the police the following day.
He gave three instances where persons arrested either by the vigilante or soldiers and handed over to the Police, were released even after parade without prosecution.
Wase’s revelation elicited several angry reactions from members of the House who said there was the need to conduct investigation into the allegation with a view to bringing those found wanting to book.
According to Wase, “I have personally made efforts to assist in resolving the insecurity caused by these bandits. I have personally driven to the security office, not as Deputy Speaker to offer help in resolving this and yet nothing has happened.
“I want to say with lots of pain that the security is not helping the situation. while the citizens are doing their best, making efforts to resolve the matter through their vigilante and other operations to protect their communities, the security is not helping out.
“For example, my district head’s wife was kidnapped. The vigilante went as far as Taraba to get those bandits and release the woman. As I speak with you, those bandits have been released by the police.
“Recently, there was another arrest made of someone who was found to be conspiring with bandits. He made a statement on video which went viral. As I speak, that person has been released.
“The soldiers and Vigilante in my village made arrest and those people have also been released. I am worried that if those arrested are given to the police, they will also be released. This does not stop in Plateau.
“My nephew working in Kaduna was kidnapped and the security traced him to Birnin Gwari and arrest was made and he was rescued. Among those arrested was one of his house help. All those arrested have been released. I visited governor el-Rufai and mentioned this to him and he took it upon himself to intervene. My nephew was later called and told that the case is spoilt because the first information report has been removed from the file.
“A saw a video trending of two policemen who were dismissed from the Service. They came to Nasarawa to arrest some armed robbers. they were offered N8 million to release the robbers, but they refused. The two of them were dismissed for not cooperating. I am concerned about the activities of some of our men in the field.
“We may never solve this problem until a drastic action is taken. I can not imagine the DPO who sets those people free sitting back there. This morning, the Army wanted to take those people out for profiling.
“Security is everybody’s business and we are all contributing to secure what God has given us, but some people are taking us back. Apart from the prayers of my motion, the House need to go after those officers who are not willing to allow peace to reign in our country, but bring us bad names.
“We can only give directives and there wil be arrest, yet you don’t hear of any conviction even when there has been parade of those criminals. What happened to them? There is even no attempt to take them to the court of law. So, I think we end to do something and make Nigeria a peaceful place to live in”.
Deputy Minority Leader, Rep Toby Okechukwu said that there was the need for the House to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the release of those arrested by the police.
“A few months back, the House had a summit on security where we presented a number of solutions. Those were born our o experiences. This morning when I see the attack on the people of Wase and the pain they are going through, it reminded me of the situation in Sokoto, katsina, Zamfara, Borno state, Imo state and several other parts of the country.
“For the first time in the history of our country, you see the six zones of the country under some level of security perdition. The security situation has become an albatross on our neck and we have to take extra measures to deal with it. we may have looked the other way when it was happening in one part of the country. But it is here.
“There has to be an investigation. We appreciate the sacrifice of our men in uniform, but we cannot under any guise allow anybody who is capable in the situation he has talked about.
“You can imagine the Deputy Speaker of this country could not use his office to intervene and had to drop his cap and present this to the parliament of the people. This is what we experience in all parts of the country.
“A culprit is caught and the following day is released. We need to find out the real issues. With the speed of light, we have to amend the constitution to restructure the security architecture of this country. The states have to play some role”.
In her contribution, Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Rep. Nkiruka Onyejeocha said the time has come when those found culpable should be sanctioned no matter how highly placed.
“While listening to the Deputy Speaker, I was shocked. I understand that I can walk into a police station to complain as an ordinary member, but a Presiding Officer of the House followed up an investigation, some people were caught and released, not once, not twice.
“You are helping to release bandits and you think you are safe? How? We started off on a good note by liaising with Security personnel, too Security as one of the cardinal issues to be given priority.
“I can tell you that every blessed day, in my constituency, you see killing and kidnapping. Students are killed and it is now everywhere. This is a wake-up call that this matter should be investigated. Nobody is above the law and anybody found culpable should be dealt with.
“It is only in Nigeria that people don’t go to jail. until we begin to hold people accountable, these things will not stop. Nigeria is on the verge of extinction. we cannot sit back and watch this country extinguished under our watch.
“At no time should we waste our time anymore. People are not going to jail even though we have enough laws to deal with the situation. Across party line, we are joining our voice to say enough is enough.”
By PRNigeria
