The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has strongly condemned the recent killing of popular Enugu musician, Okezie Nwamba, known as Igbo Jah, by a police inspector from the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Enugu State Police Command. RULAAC calls this incident another example of police brutality that reflects a disturbing lack of reform since the #EndSARS protests.
In a statement issued Tuesday, RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, described the killing of Igbo Jah as “an ongoing pattern of excessive force” within the police force, highlighting a failure to address the critical issues that fueled the #EndSARS movement.
The organization also raised concerns about two suspected kidnappers arrested by the Local Government Chairman of Essien Udim in Akwa Ibom State. According to RULAAC, these suspects were reportedly handed over to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and were later executed extrajudicially after a significant amount, totaling eight million Naira, was withdrawn from their bank accounts. RULAAC is pressing for an in-depth investigation by the Akwa Ibom Police Commissioner into these allegations, stressing that this is just one example of systemic failures within the police force.
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Nwanguma emphasized that prolonged tenures in sensitive units, like that of SP Richard Oguntobi, who has served nearly a decade in his role, often lead to unchecked abuses—a trend seen previously with CSP James Nwafor of the former Awkuzu SARS unit. RULAAC pointed out that despite a commitment to investigate abuses, many human rights allegations tied to the Awkuzu SARS and similar units remain unresolved nearly three years later.
RULAAC is demanding accountability and transparency from police leadership to ensure officers who commit abuses face appropriate consequences. They welcomed the arraignment of the officer involved in Igbo Jah’s death but call for a swift and fair trial.
Additionally, RULAAC urged the Inspector-General of Police to publicly release the long-awaited findings of the investigation into abuses by the Anambra State RRS unit. “Addressing these issues openly is essential to curtail the culture of impunity that continues to embolden wrongful actions by police officers,” the group stated.