Lack of Control by IGP Over Law Enforcement, Vigilante Groups Disturbing – Ezeobika

Barr. Chukwudi Ezeobika, rights activist and Solicitor of the Supreme Court, has expressed deep concern over what he described as the glaring lack of control by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, over law enforcement agents and vigilante groups across the country.

Ezeobika, a former National Legal Adviser of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) and Senatorial Candidate for Anambra South, said the continued existence of vigilante groups is a clear sign of state failure and a stark reflection of the ineffectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.

He condemned the persistent assaults and inhumane treatment of citizens in Anambra State under Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, describing them as “reprehensible and utterly disgraceful.” Citing the recent attack on NYSC members, including Miss Jennifer Edema Elohor and her colleagues, he said the incident exposed the Police Force’s inability to regulate vigilante groups both in Anambra and across Nigeria.

According to him, vigilante groups have become oppressive tools in the hands of state governors, fueling the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW). He demanded their immediate dissolution, warning that their continued tolerance poses grave dangers to democracy.

Ezeobika also raised questions about the legality of vigilante groups under Nigerian law, stressing that Sections 214 and 215 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) prohibit the creation of any parallel security outfit other than the Nigeria Police Force.

He faulted the use of vigilantes for tax enforcement, debt collection, and even policing women’s dress codes, warning that such practices mirror the lawlessness of Libya, where paramilitary groups thrive in the absence of state authority. He cautioned that Nigeria risks sliding into failed state status if this trend persists.

He further cited recent incidents—including the assault of passenger Comfort Emmanson aboard an Ibom Air flight in Lagos, and the hostage situation involving musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1 De Ultimate) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja—as further evidence of the Police Force’s abdication of responsibility.

Ezeobika stressed that inefficiency within the Force has worsened human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, and “jungle justice,” raising fears that the police itself may be under siege. He urged the judiciary to dissociate itself from the reckless conduct of law enforcement agencies, which often violate citizens’ rights guaranteed under Sections 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, and 41 of the Constitution.

He called on the IGP to embark on urgent reforms, including fresh recruitment, redeployment of officers currently serving private individuals and organizations, and improved police visibility across the country. He also condemned the daily extortions at illegal checkpoints, describing them as “a cancer destroying the reputation of the Force.”

Ezeobika concluded that unless urgent reforms are carried out, the credibility of the Nigeria Police Force and the safety of Nigerians will continue to deteriorate.