CSO asks Tinubu to remove Egbetokun over arrest, arraignment of minors

Lygel Youths & Leadership Initiatives, a civil society organisation (CSO), says President Bola Tinubu should remove Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector general of police (IGP), over the arrest and arraignment of minors for their alleged involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protest.

The nationwide protest that took place between August 1 and 10 turned violent in some states, leading to looting and destruction of private and public properties.

Many of the protesters were also seen waving foreign flags, calling for military intervention in the country.

However, police arrested and detained many of the protesters, including some minors.

On November 1, police arraigned the protesters, among whom were malnourished minors, before an Abuja court.

The arraignment of the minors sparked outrage and condemnation, leading President Tinubu to direct Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, to withdraw the charges against the defendants.

On November 5, a federal high court in Abuja struck out the suit against 119 persons arrested for participating in the protest. The minors were released afterward.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Lekan Oladapo, director of legal compliance of the CSO, criticised the police for the “abuse of law as an instrument of exacerbating violence on the Nigerian minors without any pretext”.

Oladapo said the way and manner in which the minors were detained by the police was a “violent breach of their rights”.

“It is, however, a sad irony that in spite of the rules of engagement in guiding the police and other security agencies in following the law, the reverse is the case in Nigeria,” he said.

“It is becoming worrisome that the state of abuse of the police has degenerated into the abysmal abuse of law as an instrument of exacerbating violence on Nigerian minors without any pretext,” he said.

“To say the least, our organisation considers it an aberration from the law and common sense, putting the Nigerian children in a despicable human condition.

“To our minds, the process of the recent arrest, incarceration, and arraignment of the minors under pitiable conditions are condemnable.

“It is a whole dehumanisation of the minors as a class of humanity. To us, it is not enough for the responsible government to strike out the case of the court.

“It becomes imperative as a healing process to fish out the direct perpetrators of this inhumanity to man and allow them to face the consequences of their actions.

“Without fear of contradictions, the inspector-general of police should be relieved of his duty as a responsible officer for this ignominious act. After all, he has outlived his statutory tenure in the service.

“Mr. President and the police council must wade into salvaging Nigerians from the messy situation we find ourselves in.

“There is a need to do more on the police reform, for the IGP has arrogated so much power to himself that he needed to be checkmated.

“Flowing from the state of things, there is a need to restructure the police council beyond mere advisory roles it plays in the appointment of the IGP.”