In this interview, retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Wilson Inalegwu, describes the recent Kaduna mob killing as a product of public impatience with the justice process and a lack of professionalism by the officers on the ground.
A s a retired AIG of police, how do we interpret what happened in Kaduna? And what does it say about policing and public confidence in the justice system?
That’s an extremely condemnable act which should never have happened. I think we must be guided by rules. Nigeria is a country that is governed by rules and we must not engage in self help. Honestly, it always leads to irredeemable mistakes. It will lead to regrettable actions and civilized people must not engage in such acts.
So, will you describe the incident as a systemic failure or an isolated breach of procedure?
I don’t think it’s isolated. I think there is a tendency on the part of people to demand for quick justice. As far as I am concerned the process of arrest and investigation and prosecution and conviction is too long. They want quick things and they commit errors. There must be a recognition that if you kill, you can never bring back life.
And there’ re processes of dealing with crime. There’s no law in Nigeria that has constituted the public to become arbiters in criminal matters. You must have trust in your police and security agencies because we can’t leave in a state of anarchy and chaos.
While the woman was in custody, whose responsibility was it to protect her?
It’s the police. The police are the ones who put her in custody. Even with their life, they should have protected her. Even with their life.
It’s just like a pilot. Or a ship. Because as a ship pilot, you must ensure that all the passengers are safe in the ship, otherwise you’ll be held liable.
So, does this incident reflect a breakdown in command and control at the state level?
No, it reflects lack of professionalism, cowardice.
On the part of the police?
Yes. on the part of the officers on the ground, and that’s regrettable. Even with their lives, they were supposed to have protected the woman. It’s their duty. It’s a duty they have.
What factors do you believe are driving mob justice?
There is a lot of tension in the land. A lot of poverty, unemployment. And people don’t know where they’re coming from so they direct their frustration at anything at all. They don’t seem to trust government institutions, they don’t trust the government. They think they can have quick fix. It doesn’t work that way. They must trust the government and its institutions and the government must communicate.
The National Orientation Agency must educate the public. Must inform the public of the consequences of giving self help and engaging in criminal actions, homicide. There is no excuse because the law defines there is the right to life and nobody has any right to take another person’s life.
In a situation where a suspect is in custody, let’s say a police custody or any other security agency, and tensions are high outside the station, what are the standard protocols officers are expected to follow?
Number one, they should tell the public to disperse. They should call for reinforcement.
If their number is inadequate, and if they have anyway, they should get the suspect out of danger. When you think the public is enraged, find a way to a safer location. I told you that they should use minimum force to disperse the crowd. And when the crowd disperses, they should use a vehicle to move the suspect out of the place.
Are the officers trained to handle crowd control under such pressure?
Yes, that’s the basic work of every police officer, crowd control. But the number of personnel in most police stations is grossly inadequate.
What disciplinary consequences typically follow the release a suspect to a mob?
The termination of duty, gross misconduct, neglect of duty, several offences, failing to protect a suspect. It’s a gross one.
So what are the disciplinary consequences?
It could be demotion, it could be dismissal.
What about the trial or prosecution?
Yes, because such negligence can also attract a criminal prosecution. It’s like a mai guard that you employ after an outbreak or something of negligence. You can even say it’s conspiracy if there’s evidence to show that he ‘ll face it.
He’ll face what?
He’ll face a punishment. He’ll be prosecuted, I mean. Prosecuted for conspiracy to commit a criminal offense. I think it’s gross negligence.
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