The attention of the Ikale World Congress was drawn to an incident that occurred on Thursday October 13, 2011 in which two lives were lost at Okitipupa, Ondo State consequent upon the discharge of firearm by Policemen on foot patrol and also at a nearby station. According to the report, there was pandemonium at Okitipupa on the said date as an irate mob was mobilized to challenge law enforcement when the killing of an innocent citizen by an inebriated Policeman spiraled out of control. We sympathize with the families of those who lost their loved ones. Our hearts also go out in sympathy to the hardworking Police officers who work their beats diligently, putting their lives in danger on a daily basis on behalf of our people in Ikaleland. These officers deserve our respect and cooperation at all times.
This unfortunate incident underscored the need for professionalism in the Nigeria Police evidenced in sound judgment on the part of officers and respect for the sanctity of human lives. We hope that investigation to the crisis will be thorough, fair to all parties with justice seen to have been done. We call on the Nigeria Police at Okitipupa and Irele local governments to work diligently in ridding its ranks of officers with questionable characters in order for the Force to effectively meet the enormous task of today's unusual security challenges. The Police must also invest in Community relation efforts in close liaison with the local government councils and our traditional rulers to harness cooperation and feedback from our people on an ongoing basis.
The Ikale World Congress (IWC) is a non profit, non political organization of Ikale men and women based in the United States of America. In addition to preserving our cultural heritage, we seek to unite Ikale in the diasporas for service to Ikaleland within the limited resources at our disposal, promoting respect for law and authority and good neighborliness. We promote and advocate for economic and social development of the Ikale people.
We call on all residents of Ikaleland to join hands with the Nigeria Police in helping to keep the peace and maintaining law and order at all times. In whatever enterprise you find yourself, it is important to remember that no one is above the law and no one has the authority to take the law into his hand.
We commend the efforts of the Nigeria Police and other law enforcement agencies in bringing the recent crisis under control. We also recognize the efforts of the Police in Community Policing of Okitipupa and Irele local governments, ridding these communities of armed robbers, kidnappers and other criminals who pose the real threat to the lives and properties of our people. We hope that the recent incident is an isolated case and we therefore urge the Police not to relent in its efforts to protect lives and properties in Ikaleland. We implore the Police to take every step to assure our people of their safety by ensuring that individuals with impaired judgment are not given the badge of enforcement over defenseless citizens.
Ikale a gbe wa o !
Publicity Secretary, Ikale World Congress.
