The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has again indicted the Federal Government and particularly berated the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over the killings in Benue State.

“The most recent killing of seven persons in Gboko, Benue State, while the IGP is believed to be operating in that state, on the directive of the President, just clearly reveals the disturbing level of incompetence of the IGP to ensure the security of lives and property in Benue State or anywhere in the country. The IGP has shown gross incompetence or deliberate tolerance of the killings in Benue, so much that his deployment to Benue could not make any difference. More people are being killed and property destroyed,” CDHR said Thursday in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Henry Peter Ekine.

“Pained about the continuous violation of the rights of the citizens in Benue, especially their right to life,” CDHR vehemently condemned “the seeming tolerance by the police and their failure in preventing these maddening and senseless killings.” The human rights group described the failure of the police to prevent these killings and ensure security of lives and property in Benue State as unfortunate and utter failure of the Inspector-General of Police.

CDHR decried “the level to which the Inspector-General of Police has degenerated in professionalism and competence and has failed in his core role to protect the lives and property and the fundamental right to life of the citizens.” The group said it was “utterly disturbed that the IGP has again displayed tactlessness or insensitivity in doing his job.” It called on the IGP “to resign within seven (7) days or be sacked forthwith.”

CDHR warned that “these senseless killings, the several conducts of continuous abuse and violation of the rights of Nigerians, the seeming insensitivity of the IGP, as well as the failure of the police to save lives, could only incite citizens’ reaction and invite anarchy in an already volatile Nigerian society.”

The group implored and urged President Muhammadu Buhari “to sack the IGP, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, forthwith. Otherwise, the continuous killings and violation of the rights of citizens in Benue State and elsewhere will continue to raise direct questions on the commitment of the Government to the core issue of security of lives and property.”

The foremost human rights group emphasised that the right to life is guaranteed under Section 33 of Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amendment, as well as under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Article 4); the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (6) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 3). The state, it pointed out, has the primary responsibility to ensure the security and welfare of the people, as provided under section 14 (2) (b) of Chapter II of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amendment.

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