CP Edgal’s unbridled order to use firearms against cult groups in Lagos

By OKOSUN DENNIS

The new man on the block has arrived and the foot soldiers are nagging and gnashing their teeth. He has set a new modus operandi; a blueprint to deal with criminal gangs in Lagos metropolis. However, the officers have been given order to redouble their efforts but shun various forms of corruption and extortion.

Since the new Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Imohimi Oluwole Edgar assumed duty of the Lagos State Command on 31 August, 2017, he has set the ball rolling holding Town Hall meetings in several Area Commands.

He has not been selfish with his thrust of office and what he intends to achieve in Lagos state with a view to reducing crime in the state with as much as 30% in the first two months in office.

However, there lies the inscrutability of his secret to achieve such humongous task. One of his policy thrust include Community policing and engaging members of the communities in partnership with the police. Without mincing words, he wants to ensure that members of the community are fully involved. Therefore, has encouraged them to set up vigilante group which would be backed up with three armed policemen in case of any eventuality.

Beyond that, his first savour was to have warned cult members still operating in the state to flee; renounce or be ready to be shot by his men when found to be in possession of firearms.

Cult nuisance factor
Prior to the assumption of office of Commissioner, various cult groups have assumed monumental nuisance to the extent that from primary schools to tertiary institution, they have penetrated spreading tentacles and distribution their notoriety.

Few days ago, with the help of Neighbourhood Security Corps, 12 minors were arrested at Mushin and dragged before an Ikeja Magistrate Court for brandishing offensive weapons in an attempt to attack rival cult group at a Secondary School within the neighbourhood.
Investigations revealed that artisans, plebeians and street urchins have been initiated into various cult groups. In Lagos Island, Shomolu, Bariga, Okokomaiko, Obalende and Oworonshoki, several youth clashes that led to death have been witnessed.

National Daily gathered that one of the major problems that threaten security in Lagos metropolis comes from the activities of cult groups. Often times, they are employed by politicians and other union leaders seeking elective positions to wreak havoc, threaten rival political party members, inflict injuries and kill where necessary in the past few years.

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With indepth knowledge of policing in Lagos state, especially having served as Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Area Commander with last appointment as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) afforded him the opportunity to lead some high profile operations against the notorious Badoo cult group. No doubt that his determination to eliminate the activities of cult groups is informed by these persuasions.

Misuse of arms
Particularly, Nigerian Police Force have marksmanship problem. In the past until recently, there have been plethora cases of misuse of arms by police officers that had led to unimaginable deaths of some Nigerians.

While some fault their poor marksmanship on inept training, others say the unwillingness of some cops to develop themselves by attending refreshers course is adversely affecting their misuse of weapons.

With the olive branch given by Commissioner Edgar to use firearm against cult members who are caught in possession of arms, the apprehension is that we might likely witness reckless misuse of arms; innocent people might be tagged with possessing of arms and been shot indiscriminately since there is no glaring mechanism to check or immediately assess culpability by arresting or confronting police officer.

According to the Police Force Order 237 which outlined “Rules for Guidance in use of firearms by the Police,” gave the circumstances that can lead to the use of firearms by a police officer.

Among such conditions, the Order specifically say that a police officer can use his gun against anybody, “When attacked and his life is in danger and there is no other way of saving his life.”

It further added that a policeman can use firearm “When defending a person who is attacked and he believes on reasonable grounds that he cannot otherwise protect that person attacked from death; and when necessary to disperse rioters or prevent them from committing serious offences against life and property.”

Interestingly, in the introduction to the order clearly stated that “It is obviously not possible to deal with all the circumstance in which it may be necessary for a Police officer to use firearms” but how does CP Edgal intend to check his men from abusing firearms knowing full well that in the past, members of the public have had it tough with some officers who hack people down at the slightest provocation.

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However, National Daily gathered that despite explicitly stated that policemen must observe some caution when using firearms, the introduction to the “Force Order” states that, “It must be realised that these notes cannot over-ride the law and that if a police officer is charged with an offence arising out of his use of firearms; it is for the court to decide whether, in the circumstances, his action was justified.

CP Edgal’s fiat
Based on the fact that every suspect is deemed innocent until proven otherwise by a competent court of jurisdiction, it becomes unacceptable to give such fiat order to the policemen to use arms.

An analyst said that “No matter the circumstance, given a blanket order to the police to use firearms when a cult member is caught with arms amounts to “rascality and indiscretion” on the part of the Lagos State Police Command.

Unfortunately, it should be understood that cult group is an outlawed organisation hence some cult members have gone berserk and threw caution to the winds. They engage in sundry attacks of rival group that have led to the deaths of both members and innocent Nigerians.

Incidentally, looking at the records of some policemen misuse of arms, it becomes necessary to maintain some restrain especially the foot policemen who confront these bad boys.

It is also important to state that the life of innocent Lagosians who might fall victim of their indiscriminate arms use will be difficult to quantify if adequate steps are not taken to checkmate the use of arms on the part of law enforcement agency.

Police spokesperson reacts
When National Daily contacted the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Olarinde Famous-Cole, said every measure is being put in place to ensure that police achieve maximum result hence CP Edgal is not relenting in its drive to emplace community policing.

Justifying the CP’s order, explained, “The CP has said that he does not want any individual whether vigilante, security men not authorised to carry firearms or brandish them in any part of the state. Reiterating, he added that policemen will partner with the vigilante and provide them with fire backup.

“CP Edgal asked cultist that carry firearms or use arms in the state should desist from it. We are not in any war front and they have no business carrying firearms to attack their fellows. Anybody that is not authorised by the law or Constitution to carry arms shouldn’t carry arm.

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“If any criminal is found with offensive weapons, such a person should be arrested,” ASP Cole reiterated.

On embracing the new concept of community policing as already espoused by the CP, added that, “What are bringing to the table is community policing, safety and partnership. One of it is to build in the trust of the citizens.

“On our part, corrupt should stop. There is no reason why anybody should go to the police station and asking for bribe or anything. If they do not ask, there is no reason to caution anybody.

“The Federal government establish the Nigerian Police Force and we are all under the employment of the federal government. Therefore, I believe, even before I joined the force that the government has always made allocation, welfare and other incentives available to the police and even the state government is doing its own part. Provisions have been adequately taken care of.”

ASP Famous-Cole added that, “We all must work together. Community policing involves community members, interested groups, everybody including the police officers and their families must come together.

“The IGP has launched the community policing partnership which is tailored towards a better and safer policing in the country. It has started and we would make it successful in Lagos state and that is why the CP is moving round the state to encourage everybody to be involved,” the spokesperson reiterated.

However, the onions rest on the law enforcement agency to act according to the confines of the laws in the use of firearms. Besides, a lot of training is needed on the part of officers saddled with the responsibility of using those arms to become more effective in order to advance their marksmanship prowess.