Enugu State Traditional Rulers’ Council has urged Nigerians to desist from jungle justice by reporting crimes in communities to the police and deal with such developments according to the law.
The Chairman of the council, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, made the plea during the Ministry of Police Affairs Sensitisation Campaign on the Police Public Complaints Committee (PPCC) activities for the South-East recently in Enugu.
Agubuzu also urged residents of the South-East to take advantage of the committee to report any infringement or misconduct of any police personnel to the committee for it to take appropriate action.
According to him, we must live in a safe and orderly society by ensuring that we do not take laws into our hands but follow due process and where a policeman defaults in his duty report to this committee for action.
He said: “The police have been managing the country as difficult as it is. It is clear there are lapses here and there and in every gathering there must be the Judas even as the Holy Bible pointed out.
“I believe this committee and other modalities to checkmate unprofessionalism set-up by the ministry and Nigeria Police are to ensure reform and gradually weed out bad eggs.”
Agubuzu, who noted that there is no perfect system anywhere, said that the traditional rulers would continue to support the Nigeria Police as it carries out its delicate but important duties of safeguarding communities.
Speaking, Traditional Ruler of Amorji-Nike in Enugu, Igwe Titus Okolo, assured the police and ministry that traditional rulers would continue to collaborate but demanded that the committee offices should be stepped down to zonal levels.
“We want this laudable committee closer and more accessible to our people so that people with complaints can get justice without delay.
“There should be more sensitisation and publicity about the function of the committee and allow more Nigerians to take advantage of its good works,” Okolo said.
In a goodwill message, the Secretary of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Mr Darlington Ugwuebe, urged youths to collaborate with the police and its ministry to ensure the safety of all within communities.
Ugwuebe said that community policing and people-focused policing remained the major way to checkmate the dynamic nature of crime of the present day society.
The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Emmenual Ede, lauded the police in all its efforts to checkmate criminality, while calling that they should always be professional in the discharge of their duties.
“I must laud the efforts of the ministry setting up this committee and we expect to see a gradual changing police force,” Ede said.
The Chief Imam of Uwani Central Mosque in Enugu, Alhaji Lawal Suleiman, said that the sensitisation had become necessary with the increase in human right infringement even from law enforcement officers.
“I will encourage the police to continue on those duties they are performing exceptionally well on; but ensure it stops those among its fold stepping on the toes of members of the public,” Suleiman said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Alkali Usman, said that the committee work had helped to weed out bad eggs as well as get the pulse of the people.
“It is a way of getting the confidence and buy-in of Nigerians as all complaints with factual evidence are treated and complaints duly listened to and action taken for redress.
“However, I will call on our people to ensure that when they see something, they should say something,” Usman, who was represented by DCP Olufemi Abaniwinda, said.
In an address, the Minister of Police Affair, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, said that there had been systematic shift from state-centred security approach to a people-centric security paradigm, through improved welfare, police reforms, modernization of strategic policing infrastructure, underscores need for collective support for the policing system.
He said: “The desire of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to fully implement Community Policing through collaboration with community stakeholders, adherence to respect for rule of law and human rights necessitated the resuscitation of PPCC in 2019.
“Expectedly, this will promote elimination of subjective apathy and dissuade resort to self-help over acts of infraction by a few deviant personnel of the Nigeria Police.
“Furthermore, the urgency to return the primacy of the Nigeria Police, necessitated the government’s commitment to promoting issues relating to welfare, strict adherence to professionalism, and modernization of critical policing infrastructure, to sustain ongoing fight against violent crimes in Nigeria.
The minister, represented by the Director, Police Inspectorate Department, Mrs Mary Akpan, said that the PPCC is currently serving as additional layers for citizens to seek redress.
He noted that the inauguration of PPCC and sensitization of citizens on its functions was sequel to the President’s directive to breach gaps between populace and the police, to elicit confidence and mutual cooperation.
