CDHR CHARGES POLICE ON KILLING OF ITS MEMBER, CHRISTIAN NJOKU IN DELTA STATE: CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF ERRANT OFFICERS WITHIN SEVEN (7) DAYS OR EXPECT BOTH LAGEL AND MASS ACTIONS
Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has furiously condemned and berated the reckless, unlawful and provocative killing of one of its devout members, Comrade Christian Njoku, on Monday 18th June, 2018, by some errant Policemen, including one Sergeant Wilson, of Ekpan Police Station in Warri, Delta State. The malicious killing of Comrade Christian was clearly a manifestation of the several threats against members of CDHR by some Policemen in Delta State, following the activities of CDHR in defence of the rights of citizens against the oppressive, unlawful and criminal conducts of such Policemen.
The Delta Branch of CDHR reported that on Monday 18th June, 2018, some Policemen from Ekpan Police Station shot and killed Comrade Christian Njoku inside his own Car, took his lifeless body and hurriedly deposited at the mortuary at the General Hospital, Warri with instructions by the said Sergeant Wilson (with phone number 08037896445) that no one should know they (the Police), dumped the body of the deceased there, apparently with the intention to conceal their criminal misdeed. They (the Policemen) went further, as a ploy, to declare the slain young and vibrant Comrade Christian Njoku as an armed robber. The purported statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta State, which alluded to the false and unsubstantiated allegation of armed robbery and exchange of gunfire between the slain Comrade and the Police, was not only reckless but insensitive and callous. The Delta State Branch and the entire membership of CDHR have been caused to mourn and provoked to greater commitment to the protection and defence of Human Rights. Injury to one is injury to all! This is another challenge against the people by some errant state agents!
CDHR therefore called on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Muhammed Mustapha, to swiftly intervene in this matter and ensure thorough and dispassionate investigation of the killing within seven (7) days; and to unravel the irregularities and disparities in the statements of the Police. The claim of exchange of gunfire cannot be true and cannot be substantiated considering the state of the late Christian’s car that had no trace of gunshot impact on any part thereof. CDHR demanded that the Inspector General of Police must get involved in this matter and he must commission a special investigative team to thoroughly investigate this killing. CDHR further demanded transparent autopsy and Coroner Inquest in this matter. The Human Rights Group also demanded for an independent custody of the late Christian’s car, perhaps with the Department of State Services (DSS), to prevent possible interference by the Police, since they are alleged to have unjustifiably murdered the deceased Comrade and have attempted to cover their misdeed. CDHR had already noted the state of the said car, without any traces of gunfire impact, soon after the incident.
The spate of attacks and killings of members of CDHR by errant Policemen in different parts of the country, with similar recent cases in Imo and Ebonyi States, at Udu, and the instant case, just clearly reveals the disturbing level of insensitivity to the rights of citizens and value of life; it shows gross intolerance against matters of Human Rights and Human Rights activists by some Policemen and other security agents. The errant Policemen from Ekpan Police Station conducted themselves in the most unprofessional manner and tried to conceal their misdeed by alleging unsubstantiated case of armed robbery. The Human Rights group has called for a deliberate investigation and prosecution of those errant Policemen, especially Sergeant Wilson, to serve as deterrent to other trigger ready Policemen and to avoid a mass reaction by members of the group, other citizens and Civil Society Organisations.
In a statement issued by its National President, Comrade (Barr) Malachy Ugummadu and made available to the Press, CDHR decried how human life has become worthless; Human Rights activists have become targets for annihilation by some security agents. CDHR expressed worry over the level to which the general security situation in the country has degenerated and how some Policemen have abdicated their core role to protect the lives and property and have become the enemies of citizens; perpetrators of extrajudicial killings of innocent citizens. The Police need to be more professional with the objective to save and protect the lives of all citizens at all times; the right to life remains a fundamental right and must be protected, especially by state agents in all circumstances. Extrajudicial killing of anyone is unlawful, and a breach of the fundamental right to life of the slain Comrade.
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 (Article 6) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 3). The state 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.
Signed
Comrade (Barr) Malachy Ugwummadu
National President, CDHR