Lucy Ukpong was shot in the chest by a policeman during demolitions in Abuja last week
The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has condemned the shooting of a salesgirl, Lucy Ukpong, in Apo, Abuja, by a policeman from the FCT Special Anti-robbery Squad last weekend, describing the act as ?wicked and senseless action.?
The party said it was disheartening that an officer supposed to be upholding the law with tact, humanity and caution, could take law into his hand.
The condemnation is contained in a release by the National Publicity Secretary of the ANPP, Emma Eneukwu , on Tuesday in Abuja.
?We received the news of the shooting of the salesgirl, Lucy Ukpong, in Apo, by a policeman last weekend, with shock. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends of Lucy, the unfortunate victim in this unreasonable and wanton human tragedy,? he said.
Eneukwu said though it was encouraging that the policeman responsible for the shooting has been detained by the Criminal Investigation Department in the Federal Capital Territory probing the murder, the guilty officers must be brought to book.
The party?s spokesman also called for a thorough retraining and reorientation process in the ranks of the Nigerian Police, ?aimed at psychologically redirecting them to face the peculiar socio-political atmosphere that is currently pervasive in our dear nation.?
He said this would also help to upgrade their rudimentary knowledge and practice of weapons handling and law-enforcement professional ethics.
?We are reminded that during the January 2012 fuel subsidy demonstrations, a police officer shot and killed a youth at Somolu, Lagos State. Late last year, a teenager was shot in Bayelsa at a police checkpoint for criticizing the officers on duty.
?Also, just a couple of months ago, a Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja sentenced an ex-police corporal to death by hanging, three years after firing bullets that killed a three-year old girl at Alapere, Ketu; he was dismissed from the force after facing an orderly room trial before being charged for murder,? he noted.
Eneukwu said though the party recognizes the immense pressure that policemen face every day in the course of their national duty, ?we believe that the service of the nation is the service of the people. No government assignment, function, or functionary, is more important that the ordinary citizen in the street.?
