In a firm appeal for reform, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the National Assembly to enact legislation targeting what it describes as the ?commercialization of law enforcement? in Nigeria. During a recent press conference, HURIWA?s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, outlined the organization?s concerns about police extortion, illustrating the urgent need for reform, using cases of two victims who faced blatant demands for bribes in their pursuit of justice.

HURIWA cited the reported ordeal of a U.S. Army veteran Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna as a distressing example of systemic corruption within the Nigerian Police Force, particularly at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) headquarters in Abuja. ?The US ARMY VETERAN, Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna, has been allegedly embroiled in an unending quest for justice since he reported a rogue police unit?s activities in Anambra State?.

According to HURIWA, the Nigerian-American US ARMY veteran, Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna has allegedly faced extortion from high-ranking officers at FCID Abuja, who allegedly promised to investigate his case but, over three years, have continually demanded bribes without substantial action. The rights group informed that the veteran, fearing for his safety after repeated threats, recently returned to the United States, as he remains determined to seek accountability, having submitted multiple petitions to Nigerian authorities, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). The US Army veteran Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna had alleged that a certain senior police officer amongst others are jointly running a crime syndicate and advanced fees fraud network in Anambra State just as he alleged other startling crimes allegedly committed by the gang but lamented that even when the said police officer in Anambra State threatened to kill him for exposing his alleged connivance with fraudsters, the top echelons of the police were bent on extorting him of several millions without successfully arresting the suspect.

HURIWA quoted the US ARMY VETERAN as stating that this is What Any Reporter from Nigeria will Hear Me Say:

His words: ?One shocking observation I made from my encounters with hardcore criminals in Anambra State and Nigeria police officers is this:

Senior police officers at FCID headquarters Abuja are behind the insecurities and destabilization of Anambra State and other parts of Igboland.

?There are certain individuals, civilians and police officers who make huge money by linking worst hardcore violent criminal syndicates with senior police officers at FCID hdqtrs Abuja, who give them assurances of protection from investigation and prosecution for any crimes they commit anywhere in Nigeria. I learned new meaning of ?RESCUE MISSION?. I saw this in action. I experienced it. Nigeria is finished. If the rest of the security agencies in Nigeria are like police at FCID hdqtrs Abuja, in terms of collecting money to arrest hardcore violent criminals and tipping the same criminals off to disappear until further notice, I will tell you that Nigeria will rapidly descend into total anarchy in a very short time.

?The police officers I met at FCID hdqtrs Abuja are not crimes-fighters. They are people making huge ?something? by encouraging, aiding, and abetting hardcore crimes and destabilization of the society. The same hardcore criminals attacking and killing police officers and other security officers and collecting their weapons are getting protection by senior police officers at FCID hdqtrs Abuja. I saw these in action.

?It?s a shame, it?s a disaster!?

HURIWA underscored that the US ARMY veteran?s experience is not an isolated case, but rather indicative of a larger, systemic issue within law enforcement. ?This type of alleged exploitation, particularly from senior officers tasked with upholding the law, suggests a deep-rooted decay within the institution,? Onwubiko stated. He added that the National Assembly must urgently address this rot by enacting legislation that not only bans such practices but also prescribes strict penalties for officers found guilty of extorting crime victims. The Rights group is writing to request that the public complaints committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate should organise open, public hearing on these ugly developments.

Onwubiko also highlighted the plight of a Guardian reporter whose car was stolen, and when the reporter approached the police for assistance, officers allegedly demanded a ?500,000 payment to track the stolen vehicle. While contending that such extortion tactics are prevalent across the country, with many police commands setting ?standard charges? for crime victims seeking assistance, HURIWA noted that the incident, covered by major news outlets, has drawn public outrage and further exposed the lack of accountability in law enforcement.

?This is not how to combat crime,? Onwubiko asserted. ?If law enforcement institutions prioritize financial gain over their duty to protect citizens, they not only fail the public but also contribute to a culture of impunity and insecurity.? HURIWA insisted that the National Assembly must intervene decisively to curb the commercialization of police services, a trend the organization believes has grown unchecked for years.

The human rights association argued that the root of this issue lies in the lack of transparency and accountability within the police force, particularly in how funds are allocated and utilized. ?Despite significant budget increases, from ?15 billion in 2015 to ?400 billion in 2023, there is little to show in terms of infrastructural improvement, with many police stations in disrepair and law enforcement training facilities underfunded and neglected. HURIWA asserted that the poor conditions in police detention centers are so dire that detainees risk contracting diseases due to unsanitary environments, while officers focus on extorting crime victims rather than upholding their duties.

HURIWA proposed comprehensive legislation that would impose specific penalties for extortion, applicable to all law enforcement personnel, from the IGP to Divisional Police Officers (DPOs). The organization also called for the creation of a Directorate within the Police Service Commission to oversee compliance with anti-extortion laws. This body, HURIWA suggested, should have the power to investigate and hold accountable any officer or police unit involved in exploitative practices. HURIWA disclosed that it will table this position in details to the new hierarchy of the police service commission in the coming hours.

Furthermore, HURIWA called for increased oversight, particularly at the FCID headquarters in Abuja, which the organization claimed is rife with allegations of corruption. They also demanded for the umpteenth time, the immediate release of CCTV footage from the FCID premises, which allegedly holds key evidence of police officers assaulting the veteran during his last visit. According to HURIWA, the footage could expose the complicity of certain officers in shielding criminal elements rather than prosecuting them.

HURIWA warned that failing to address these systemic issues could lead to a further erosion of public trust in law enforcement and a worsening of Nigeria?s security situation. ?When law enforcement becomes a business transaction, the very principles of justice and accountability are undermined. Nigeria cannot afford to allow its law enforcement agencies to devolve into centers of extortion and exploitation,? Onwubiko concluded.

In its final remarks, HURIWA appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the IGP, and the AGF to urgently address the Nigerian-American US Army veteran?s case and similar complaints. The organization also called for a comprehensive review of police operations in Anambra State and other regions plagued by corruption, advocating for a complete overhaul of the police force to eliminate rogue elements. HURIWA reiterated its commitment to holding the government accountable, stressing that legislative intervention is vital to restoring the integrity of Nigeria?s law enforcement agencies.

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