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The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) was established in 1861 and serves as the principal law enforcement agency in Nigeria. Its primary function is to maintain law and order in the country and ensure the safety and security of citizens. However, recent events in Kaduna and Zaria suggest that the NPF is being used for purposes other than its primary function.
The Kaduna state government has been using the police force to aid in the demolition of Islamic movement properties in the state. This includes hospitals, houses, and Fodiyyah schools.
Despite an ongoing crisis in Plateau State, where there have been numerous cases of violence and ethnic clashes, the Kaduna state government has focused its attention on the Islamic movement. This raises concerns about the government’s priorities and its use of police resources.
The government has accused the Islamic Movement of being a security threat and has taken various measures to suppress its activities. In 2015, the government forcibly detained its leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and killing some of its members.
Since then, the government has continued its crackdown on the Islamic movement, despite calls from international human rights organizations and many Nigerians for the government to release El-Zakzaky and respect the group’s right to freedom of religion and expression.
The recent demolitions of the Islamic movement’s properties in Kaduna and Zaria have further escalated tensions between Islamic Movement and the government. The Kaduna state government stated, that the properties were illegally obtained though there are evidence of that claim being false.
However, the Islamic movement disputes these claims, saying that the properties were legally obtained and served a legitimate purpose in the community. The demolition of the hospitals, in particular, has raised concerns about the government’s disregard for the health and well-being of the community.
The use of the police force to aid in the demolitions has also raised concerns about the NPF’s independence and impartiality. The police force is supposed to be neutral and serve all citizens equally. However, its involvement in the demolitions of the Islamic movement’s properties suggests that it is being used by the government for political purposes.
Moreover, the fact that the Kaduna state government is using police resources to demolish properties in Kaduna and Zaria while there is an ongoing crisis in Plateau State raises questions about the government’s priorities. Plateau State has been plagued by violence and ethnic clashes for years, and the government’s failure to address the situation has led to numerous deaths and injuries.
Instead of using police resources to address the crisis in Plateau State, the government is focusing on the Islamic movement, which has not been involved in any act violence. This suggests that the government is more interested in suppressing dissent than in addressing the root causes of violence in the country.
The Nigerian Police Force has a responsibility to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of citizens. Its involvement in the demolitions of the Islamic movement’s properties raises questions about its independence and impartiality. The government’s focus on the Islamic movement while there is an ongoing crisis in Plateau State raises concerns about its priorities and willingness to address the root causes of violence in the country.
The government must respect the rights of all citizens and prioritize the safety and security of the entire country, not just a select few. The police force must also uphold its duty to protect citizens and remain neutral in all matters. Failure to do so risks further destabilizing the country and fueling tensions between different groups.