Attack On Lagos Police Station: Civic Organisation, RULAAC Demands Impartial Investigation
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has strongly criticized the recent attack on the Ipaja Police Station in Lagos, urging for an impartial investigation to understand the root causes behind the incident.
In a statement by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC emphasized that while there is no justification for crime and violence, factors like unemployment, poverty, and aggressive law enforcement tactics can lead to frustration and reckless actions.
The Lagos State Police Command reported that officers at the Ipaja Police Division successfully repelled the attack, which occurred after the enforcement of a ban on motorcycles in Lagos. However, RULAAC expressed concern over the motives behind such a brazen assault on a police station.
The organization acknowledged that while some motorcycle riders have defied the ban, there have also been complaints about police officers exceeding their jurisdiction by pursuing riders into areas not covered by the ban and engaging in extortion.
RULAAC highlighted that the Lagos State government’s ban exempts certain areas like Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki Peninsula, and the central business district due to the reliance on motorcycles for transportation. However, there have been reports of police misconduct in enforcing the ban, including the alleged collection of bribes from motorcycle riders to allow them to operate freely.
The statement reiterated the importance of an independent and impartial investigation to uncover the true reasons behind the attack on the Ipaja Police Station and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In essence, RULAAC condemns the violence but calls for a deeper understanding of the underlying issues, including unemployment, poverty, and police misconduct, to address the root causes of such attacks on law enforcement agencies.
SaharaReporters
