Published 30th Dec, 2022

By Daniel Ojukwu

Two years after Nigerians took to the streets to protest against police brutality and extrajudicial killings, cases of policemen killing civilians continue to dominate news headlines across the country.

Often described as ‘rogue’ or ‘trigger-happy’ by spokesmen of the force in various states, the policemen who perpetrate the crimes are often never in the limelight and what becomes of them is either not communicated or under-reported.

Despite attempts by police public relations officers (PPROs) to pass off criminal activities of the police as odd events, the frequency of their crimes show they are not so odd. Checks by FIJ revealed Muyiwa Adejobi, police spokesman, force headquarters, referred to ‘bad eggs’ in the police on no fewer than 14 occasions via tweets between February and December 2022.

Between January 1 and December 30, FIJ has found several cases of extrajudicial killings, and how the police reacted to them:

January 17; Police ‘Kill‘ Shedrach Ochoche in Abuja: Police in Mabushi division, Abuja, were accused of torturing and killing Shedrach Ochoche, a former cleaner.

Ochoche’s alleged crime was stealing a car battery belonging to a Chinese woman whom he used to work for. He died in police custody on January 17.

Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the police in Abuja, denied the police’s involvement, claiming Ochoche fell ill and succumbed to his illness.

January 22; Kogi Cop Murders Teenager Over Pure Water: In Kabba, Kogi State, an unnamed policeman shot and killed a teenage commercial motorcycle rider who, according to witnesses, took a sachet of pure water from the policeman’s vehicle.

Protests followed the killing, but Edward Egbuka, Kogi State Commissioner of Police, described the incident as self-defence.

February 3; Drunk Policeman Kills Soldier Guarding Shehu of Borno: An unnamed drunk policeman arrived the palace of Abubakar El-Kanemi, Shehu of Borno, and was challenged by Donatus Vonkong, the Shehu’s chief of security.

Other policemen intervened and convinced Vonkong to leave the drunk officer. Moments after, the officer opened fire and killed Vonkong.

The police spokesman in the state did not give a reaction at the time of the incident.

February 25; Using Taser, Oyo Policemen ‘Torture, Kill’ 21-Year-Old: In February, policemen in Apete, Oyo State, reportedly tortured 21-year-old Ridwan Olanrewaju to death using a taser.

The officers accused him of fraud and tasered him and his friends when he denied the allegations.

FIJ found no official record of reactions from the Oyo State Police Command.

February 25: In Apata, Oyo, Police Extort N700,000, Kill Man Afterwards: Public outcry followed the killing of an unidentified man in Apata, Oyo State, on February 25, 2022.

According to reports, policemen dubbed him a fraudster, extorted N700,000 from him and killed him afterwards.

FIJ found no official record of reactions from the Oyo State Police Command.

February 28; Lagos Police Torture Alleged Cultist to Death: On December 28, 2021, policemen in Ketu, Lagos State, arrested Sunday Agbamuche for alleged cult activities.

According to reports, the police tortured him and two others until he died on February 28, 2022.

The police went on to charge the deceased and two others to court.

April 24; Drunk Policeman Shoots Two Businessmen Dead at Birthday Party: During a birthday party in Egbeda, Lagos State, on April 24, 2022, a drunk policeman cocked his gun and ended the lives of two attendees.

Identified simply as Chikere and Odinaka, the two men went from being cheerful party-goers to lifeless bodies circulating in viral social media videos.

The Lagos police promised to investigate the matter but did not name the erring officer.

September 21; Plateau Police Kill 16-Year-Old, Injure Two: Residents of Jos North LGA had their community overrun by police from C Division at about 8 pm on September 21, 2022.

In the usual fashion, bullets were let fly, and 16-year-old Usman Bala was killed, while two others were shot in the feet.

Alabo Alfred, spokesman for the state police, described the police’s action as self-defence and said the force was investigating, but there has been no word since then.

December 6; Ajah Policemen Gun Down Gafaru Buraimoh: When policemen stormed the Ajah area of Lagos State to arrest sellers of petrol on the black market, little did residents know it would turn bloody.

A short while after they arrived, they began firing shots sporadically. Thirty-year-old Gafaru Buraimoh was felled by a policeman whose identity was kept secret by the force.

In an official statement by the state command, this policeman was said to be in detention while investigations continued. Nothing was heard of the matter afterwards.

December 25; Lagos Policeman Shoots Pregnant Lawyer Dead: On Christmas day, ‘trigger-happy’ ASP Drambi Vandi shot and killed Bolanle Raheem, a pregnant lawyer, in the Ajah area of Lagos State.

This came 19 days after policemen in the area killed Buraimoh in similar reckless fashion.

Usman Baba Alkali, Inspector-General of Police, recommended Vandi’s suspension, but no further sanctions had been meted at press time.

Ojukwu is a reporter with FIJ in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.

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