The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has assured that the 8th Senate is committed to the passage of the Police Reforms Bill so as to ensure that the Nigeria Police Force is more efficient and responsive to the needs of all Nigerians.
Saraki who stated this while reacting to the killing of Kolade Johnson in Lagos on Sunday by the operatives of the Anti-Cultism unit of the Lagos State Police Command added that he had also been in contact with the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs and that he was pleased to announce that the report of the Police Reform Bill would be laid by next week Tuesday.
He disclosed that it was issues like the senseless killings, assault and extortion of everyday Nigerians by some ‘bad apples’ in the Police Force was what prompted the senate to introduce and fast-track the progression of the Bill.
In his words,” My heartfelt prayers are with the family and friends of Kolade Johnson, the young football fan who was allegedly killed by men of the Nigerian Police in Mangoro/Onipetesi community in Lagos.
“Issues like the senseless killings, assault and extortion of everyday Nigerians by some ‘bad apples’ in the Police Force is what prompted the Nigerian Senate to introduce and fast-track the progression of the Police Reform Bill.
“Make no mistake, the 8th Senate remains committed to the passage of the Police Reform Bill to ensure that our Police Force is more efficient and responsive to the needs of all Nigerians.
“I have also been in contact with the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs and I am pleased to announce that the report of the Police Reform Bill will be laid by next week Tuesday”.
It will be recalled that Kolade Johnson, a resident of Onipetesi in the Mangoro area of Lagos, was killed by a stray bullet from the operatives of the anti-cultism unit of the State Police command who raided the area on Sunday.
Report has it that Johnson had gone to watch football match on that fateful day when he was hit by a stray bullet fired by the Police sparking of protest from the residents of the area.
However, the Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Bala Elkana in a release on Monday confirmed that members of the team suspected to be involved in the shooting had since been arrested and were currently in Police custody undergoing interrogation even as he said that they would be subjected to internal disciplinary procedures and may be prosecuted in conventional Court if implicated by ongoing investigation.
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