By Nakwam Rose
Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani has condemned the killing of a civilian identified as Garang Simon by security personnel.
Simon was reportedly shot at a night checkpoint.
Garang Simon, an employee of the Pyramid Hotel, was fatally shot in the head reportedly by security personnel while on his way home from work. The motive for the shooting remains unknown.
Yakani described the late Garang as a professional, social, and peaceful servant who didn’t deserve the police brutality mounted upon him, however tense the situation on the ground seemed.
The activist is urging high authorities to address the tragic incident and to implement thorough training for security forces on the proper use of firearms.
In response to the incident, the police confirmed that the officer responsible is currently in police custody.
However, Yakani is emphasizing the importance of ensuring justice is served appropriately, citing concerns about favoritism in such cases.
“We wish him to face the law in a due legal process without any fears or favors,” Yakani stated. “In similar cases, the perpetrator usually walks away because they might be related to higher government officials.”
Yakani affirmed that activists are closely monitoring this case to prevent it from ending like others, where offenders go unpunished.
The activist issued a stern warning to senior police forces regarding their juniors’ involvement in malpractices such as intimidation and harassment, which he says are used to mistreat civilians.
He suggested that such actions indicate a lack of professional security training.
“I take this opportunity to alert police authorities that some of your junior members are abusing their powers against the civilian population as if they have never undergone professional training of standards of exercising their mandates,” Yakani lamented.
He called for urgent disciplinary action within the security sector, stressing that such acts are strictly forbidden.