Probe Ekiti violence now, APC tells Police

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the police hierarchy to immediately launch a comprehensive investigation into the violence unleashed by armed policemen on innocent members of the party during a peaceful procession in Ado Ekiti last Sunday, with a view to unraveling the cause of the unprovoked attack.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also demanded that the killer of one of the peaceful protesters be identified and brought to justice, as no one has the right to take the life of another for whatever reason.

It said investigating the violence and punishing those responsible will send a clear signal to other trigger-happy and partisan policemen that the Force will not tolerate such acts of brigandage and impunity.

‘’It will also go a long way in reducing the tension that has been heightened in the state by the senseless police action, ahead of the June 21st governorship election in the state,’’ APC said.

The party said several days after the attack on defenceless citizens who were only carrying brooms, singing and dancing, Nigerians have continued to wonder why the police, who are paid to protect citizens, will turn around to unleash violence and mayhem on them.

It warned that failure to unravel the cause of “that irresponsible, unprofessional, shocking and obviously-premeditated action by the police may send the wrong signal to the people that those paid to protect them will not do so, and in fact will not hesitate to turn their weapons against the people.”

‘’When the people lose confidence in the police or other security agencies because of the unpunished actions of a few hooligans in uniform, the society risks descending into anarchy,’’ APC warned.

The party said the police must be neutral, professional and above board in the discharge of their duties, especially ahead of the two key elections this year and the general elections next year.