A human rights advocacy and public accountability organization, RULAAC has condemned “the gratuitous and unacceptable shooting and killing of Superintendent of Police, Halliru Liman, a police DPO under the Zamfara State Police Command by a military personnel on Thursday, August 29, 2024”.
This was communicated in a statement signed by the Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, and sent to SaharaReporters on Sunday.
The statement read in part, “This recent tragic incident brings back to sad memory similar unresolved cases in the past of the killing of police officers by military personnel.
“We recall the attack and murder of three police officers from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) by military personnel at a checkpoint in August 2019 while returning from the arrest of suspected kidnap kingpin Hamisu Wadume.
“This recurrent incident highlights serious issues within Nigeria’s security forces, including interagency friction, accountability issues, civil military relations, impact on law enforcement, and the urgency of reform.”
The organisation also decried the lack of coordination between various security agencies in the country.
It said, “The incident underscores a troubling lack of coordination and cooperation between military and police forces, which can lead to deadly misunderstandings.
“The absence of accountability for military personnel involved in the earlier killings appears to foster a culture of impunity, enabling further violence, as evidenced by the subsequent murder of Superintendent of Police Haliru Liman by military officers in Zamfara.
“The events indicate a breakdown in civil-military relations, creating a scenario where military personnel may feel empowered to act without oversight, potentially endangering civilians and law enforcement officers alike.”
It expressed worry that the recurring situation can make the public lose respect for the police.
It said, “Such gratuitous and usually unpunished violence can demoralize law enforcement personnel, hinder police effectiveness, and undermine public trust in security agencies.
“These incidents highlight the urgent need for reforms that enhance accountability, improve inter-agency communication, and establish clear operational protocols between military and police forces.
“Addressing these issues is essential for restoring trust in Nigeria’s security framework and preventing further escalations of violence.”
Calling for accountability and an investigation into the killing of the policeman by a soldier, RULAAC said such is “essential to uphold justice, maintain public confidence, and ensure the integrity of the security apparatus”.