By Lukman Olabiyi
A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for directing the new Inspector General of Police to reopen investigations into numerous unresolved political and other killings in the country.
According to the national coordinator of the group, Okechukwu Nwanguma, the action taken by the federal government has showed that the current administration is determined to ensure that justice is attained in the affected cases.
“One of the key sources of the grave damage to the image of the Nigeria Police, and which continue to portray the country in bad light is the failure to fulfill one of their fundamental obligations which is to effectively investigate cases of politically-motivated and other controversial killings with a view to bringing perpetrators to book and justice for the victims.
“The intrigues that have attended the investigation and prosecution of suspects in the Bola Ige case have exposed the police and the judiciary to ridicule.
“The contradictions in the different reports by the police and DSS in the case of the killing of Olaitan Oyerinde, Private Secretary to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomole also created confusion that hindered efforts to unravel the actual perpetrators of that dastardly killing and ensuring that they are brought to book”, he said.
The group implored FG to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to look into the killings and make appropriate recommendations that would ensure justice for the victims, the perpetrators and the society