A civil rights organisation, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), has raised an alarm over what it called incessant arrests, detention and attempted murder of members of the public by the men of the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police.

It specifically asked for the outright dismissal of Police officers attached to Meiran Police Station of the state.

It also urged the State Police Command to also dismiss the Divisional Officer (DPO) of the Meiran Police Station over alleged attempted murder of one Ismaila Danladi and his friends on the eve of the recent 2018 Christmas festival, but the youngsters were divinely saved from the Police brutal attack.

According to the civil rights group, Danladi, a 40-year-old man who was illegally arrested along with his friend, Oghadi, on Monday December 24, 2018, nearly died from gunshot wounds he sustained in his right leg at the hands of men of the divisional police station who stormed the Okesina Street in the Meiran area of the state, off the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, for their illegal duty on the fateful day.

This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Executive Chairman of CHRSJ, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman, with copies made available to newsmen, who strongly condemned the brutal attack of innocent Nigerians by the Police officers that were supposed to serve and protect the citizens with integrity and rule of law.

It urged the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Edgar Imhohinmi, to urgently ensure justice for innocent Ismaila Danladi who is the breadwinner of his family.

Sulaiman narrated in the Statement how Danladi, a Supervisor at Yard 158 Events Arena, Oregun area of the state, and his friends, were arrested and brutalised by the Police officers of the Station, for their refusal to give the police officers money to celebrate Christmas festival.

He also alleged that the refusal of the victims to pay N15,000 for bail, made the Police to further brutalise Danladi at the Police Station Premises, before the DPO instructed one of his men to push him (Danladi) out of the Police Station.

The rights activist further stated that Danladi, a resident of 3, Adenekan Street, Rhema Estate, Meiran area of Lagos State, went to the second street (Okesina) to meet his friend (Oghadi), around 7.17pm before the policemen allegedly stormed the area to perpetrate their evil act.

Apart from planning to terminate the life of the victim for refusing to give them money for bail, Sulaiman also accused the police of torturing Danladi’s friend (Oghadi) and other illegally arrested innocent citizens who they forced to pay N15,000 each for bail before releasing them on the Charismas day.

The statement stated that the father of the victim, Usman Danladi, a retired Airforce Officer, disclosed that an acquaintance called him to come and pick Danladi who was thrown out of the station on the order of the DPO.

He claimed that the family has spent N187,000 Danladi’s medical treatment from the Injuries he sustained in the hands of the police men.

He said when he went to the Station to meet the DPO to enquire what really happened, police officers sent him away with a threat to be shot down if he refused to leave the police station.

Said Sulaiman: “We are ready to see to the end of this case because it has become the habit and unprofessional character of the Police Officers attached to the Meiran Police Station since 2013.

“We are determined to bring the culprits to book and we will not spare any efforts whatsoever in seeking redress.”

While calling on the State Police Commissioner to investigate the dastard act, the rights group said it would also forward its petition to the relevant authorities including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Police Service Commission (PSC), the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International, Nigeria Police Council (NPC), Minister of Interior and the Presidency.

Update news