An Open Letter to the Inspector General of Police

An Open Letter to the Inspector General of Police

Dear IGP Tunji Ridwan Disu,

I write to commend your decision to constitute an investigative panel to probe the long-standing allegations of abuse of office, impunity, and criminal conduct leveled against the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, and officers under his command. This step, though belated, represents a necessary response to the cries of countless Lagosians who have endured years of unchecked brutality and injustice.

However, I must emphasize that this panel must not be allowed to succumb to pressure from powerful political interests who have consistently shielded CSP Akerele and his men from accountability. The credibility of this process rests squarely on its independence, transparency, and willingness to follow the evidence wherever it leads. Lagosians, particularly victims and civil society organizations, are fully prepared to present a preponderance of evidence detailing widespread human rights violations, extortion, unlawful demolitions, and acts of violence perpetrated under the guise of law enforcement.

It is also my firm position that this investigation risks being rendered meaningless if it fails to extend to the role of CP Moshood Jimoh. There are compelling allegations that he has acted as a critical enabler of the excesses of the Lagos State Taskforce. His public dismissal of these grave allegations through a carefully orchestrated press conference, alongside what appears to be sponsored public relations efforts, cannot erase a record deeply stained by accusations of impunity.

Numerous petitions have been submitted detailing allegations of human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, cover-ups, and collusion with land-grabbing syndicates targeting poor and vulnerable communities. Reports from communities such as Oworoshoki, Makoko, Owode-Onirin, Bariga, and Ajegunle paint a grim picture of state-backed repression, including forced evictions marked by heavy police clampdowns. Particularly disturbing is the reported death of a five-day-old baby following exposure to teargas fired into densely populated areas, an incident that underscores the reckless disregard for human life under CP moshood jimoh lead Police command in Lagos State.

Equally troubling are allegations of the direct involvement of CP Moshood Jimoh in the brutal suppression of peaceful protest. The reported torture of human rights activist Taiwo Hassan Soweto, alongside the violent disruption of an anti-eviction protest that started from Ikeja Under Bridge to the Lagos State House of Assembly, raises serious questions about the conduct of senior police leadership. The use of teargas in such circumstances, leading to injuries and widespread distress among protesters and bystanders, represents a gross violation of democratic rights.

These are not trivial claims that can be swept under the carpet. They strike at the very heart of justice, accountability, and public trust in law enforcement institutions.

It is therefore deeply concerning that the Police Service Commission, despite receiving multiple petitions against CP Moshood Jimoh, failed to establish any investigative panel and instead proceeded to promote him. This action raises fundamental questions about the Commission’s commitment to its mandate and suggests a troubling pattern of institutional complicity in shielding errant officers from scrutiny.

IGP Tunji Disu, the Nigerian people are watching. This panel presents an opportunity to break with a history of impunity and to demonstrate that no officer, regardless of rank or connections, is above the law. Anything short of a thorough, impartial, and far-reaching investigation, including all individuals implicated, will only reinforce public cynicism and deepen the crisis of confidence in the police.

Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done.

Yours sincerely,

Francis Nwapa
Socialist Activist and Human Rights Advocate