The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has accused the Nigeria Police Force and the Kogi State Government of abusing their power to suppress opposition voices, particularly targeting Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a fiery statement, HURIWA condemned what it described as a politically motivated plot between the Kogi State Police Command and Governor Usman Ododo—who is a first cousin to former Governor Yahaya Bello—to block the senator from visiting her home and engaging with her constituents.
“HURIWA is appalled that the Nigeria Police Force, which should serve all Nigerians, has instead become an ‘attack dog’ and a ‘lapdog’ for the All Progressives Congress (APC),” the group stated.
The advocacy group called on the police hierarchy to detach itself from politics and uphold its duty as an independent institution, as required by the Police Act of 2020.
“Why is the Kogi State Police Command blindly following the APC governor’s directives, violating the Police Act and using politically motivated tactics to stop Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from exercising her fundamental rights?” HURIWA asked.
The group also demanded a public investigation into the state’s Commissioner of Police, challenging him to provide concrete evidence of the alleged security threats used to justify what they called a “politically orchestrated crackdown.”
HURIWA pointed out that just 48 hours before Akpoti-Uduaghan’s planned homecoming event, the Kogi State Government suddenly banned public gatherings, citing security concerns. The government even prohibited fishing activities, claiming incidents in certain communities had resulted in loss of life.
The Kogi Police Command followed up by ordering the cancellation of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rally, citing an “intelligence report” warning that hoodlums might hijack the event.
HURIWA, however, dismissed these claims as a “primitive and unconstitutional misuse of police powers,” insisting that law enforcement in Kogi State had been reduced to nothing more than a political tool for the APC.
“The Kogi State Police Command has disgracefully turned itself into the ‘official lapdog’ and ‘attack dog’ of the ruling party,” HURIWA stated. “This is unacceptable and must be condemned by all who believe in democracy and justice.”
