As criticisms continue to trail the brutal murder of Lagos female Lawyer, Bolalane Raheem on Christmas day by a trigger happy police officer, identified as ASP Dambri Vandi, the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria (NHRC) has reiterated the urgent need to carry out a mental reorientation of serving officers in the Nigerian police force.
The NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu (SAN), who made this call, noted in dismay that the incessant reported cases of arbitrary killing of innocent Nigerians would be put to check if recruited officer were certified mentally balanced.
Ojukwu recalled that the commission had consistently called for regular evaluation of the mental state of serving police officers in order to avert ugly incidences as the brutal murder of Bolalane Raheem.
He disclosed that the NHRC had organized series of mental health programs for serving officers in the past, adding that such program must be a continuum.
Against this back drop, the NHRC Executive Secretary urged the federal government to make it a matter of urgent necessity to organize refresher mental reorientation workshops for serving officers, adding that policemen entrusted with bullets laden guns would be the target of such programs.
Ojukwu, however, expressed condolences to the family and friends of the slain Lagos Lawyer.