House of Representatives yesterday condemned in strong terms the alleged incessant intimidation and arrest of innocent citizens by officers of Nigerian Police Command in Bauchi State.
To this end, the House mandated the Committee on Police Affairs to investigate the matter and report back within four weeks.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion under matters of urgent public importance sponsored by Ahmed Yerima (APC-Bauchi).
In his lead debate, Yerima wondered why the police who was supposed to be state instrument for the protection of lives and property of the citizen, embarked on arbitrary harassment, arrest, detention of innocent citizens.
Yerima, who argued that police in the state had become an instrument of political strife, witch-hunting and vendetta in the hands of government officials in the state, however, called for the intervention of the House.
“We now have a situation whereby the state is under siege by the Nigerian police. You can’t go to the police if your rights are violated because they will aggravate your situation by taking sides. You can’t go to court, because the same people who control the police control the judiciary.
“In Bauchi metropolis and environs now, people can no longer gather, whether in the open or in a hall, to hold meetings or discuss issues of mutual interest without the police raiding and arresting them on orders from above.
“Youths in the state are now criminalised based on perception that they are sympathetic to or work for perceived political opponents of those in power,” Yerima alleged.
While warning of an imminent collapse of security, law and order if nothing is done urgently, he urged the House to direct the committee to investigate the matter and report back within four weeks.
On his part, Johnson Agbonayinma (PDP-Edo), who frowned at the actions of the Bauchi State governor, accused him of enthroning impunity that turned the police against the people whose mandate he enjoyed.
“This is one of the reasons why I speak against immunity for chief executives. As far as the law is concerned, nobody should be above the law. Whether you are the President, Governor, Speaker, Senate President or a member of the House.
“I understand what’s happening in Bauchi. And it’s very unfortunate that the people whom the government is supposed to serve are now at the receiving end of government excesses. A governor who was elected by the people now uses state apparatus to intimidate and harass the same people whose mandate he enjoys. Is he above the law?
“I call on this House, which is the last hope of the common man, to rise to the occasion and nip this ugly scenario in the bud,” Agbonayinma said.
