The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticized the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for allegedly taking sides in the ongoing Kano emirate dispute.
In a statement released on Tuesday, HURIWA urged the police to avoid political biases and focus on upholding the rule of law and ensuring national security.
The statement, signed by HURIWA’s National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, emphasized that the police must not act as alternate governments in states governed by political parties other than the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Onwubiko stressed that the police force, established by the constitution, should not serve political interests. HURIWA accused the police of favoring powerful interests over promoting harmony, security, and the rule of law in Kano and Rivers States.
HURIWA condemned the police in Rivers State for being one-sided, pointing out that supporters of the dissolved local government councils are organizing rallies in support of the Inspector General of Police. The group questioned the authority of state governors as chief security officers when the IGP dictates police actions based on political interests.
“The police should not undermine stability and security in states not governed by the political party controlling the federal government. The police must remain a national institution, not a politicized one following specific political directives. Their actions in Rivers and Kano are undemocratic and unconstitutional,” HURIWA stated.
The group also highlighted the deteriorating security situation in Rivers State, accusing the police of acting as partisan agents to protect the political interests of former local council chairmen whose tenures had expired, despite the governor appointing replacements.
HURIWA noted that the police occupied the 23 local council secretariats in Rivers State following youth clashes that resulted in two deaths. They questioned whether the Rivers State government was consulted before the police took control of the secretariats and how this occupation impacts local government operations and civil servants. HURIWA inquired whether the police had effectively overthrown local government administrators in Rivers State.
