The Federal Government through the Ministry of Police Affairs, has sensitised stakeholders in the North Central on the activities of the inaugurated Police Public Complaints Committee (PPCC).

In his keynote address on Thursday in Lokoja, the Hon. Minister of Police Affairs, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, said the campaign was to sensitize the good people of Kogi State and other States in the Zones on the existence and the mandates of PPCC.

According to him, PPCC is a direct response by the Federal Government to forestall reoccurrence of any violent anti-police protests such as the ENDSARS protests that befell the nation recently.

The Minister was represented by Bolarinwa Omoluabi, Director Legal Services of the ministry.

The minister explained that the PPCC as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari was inaugurated on April 7, 2021, to among other things bridge the gap between the police and the populace to engender sustainable confidence and mutual cooperation.

He noted that the first and second editions of the sensitisation campaign was held in Lagos and Sokoto States for the South-west and North-west geo-political zones, respectively.

He thanked the stakeholders for their commitment to the success of the ongoing police reform programme in the area of service delivery, respect for rule of law and human rights as well as deepening police-public relations.

”This initiative is in furtherance of President Mohammadu Buhari’s quest to attaining people-centred policing arrangements, which prioritize respect for citizens’ rights.

”It addresses genuine cases of infractions to promote inclusiveness in policing engagement with the public and to advance peace and security for national development.

”Our gathering here is to sensitize Nigerians on actions to take when their rights are trampled upon by Police officers in the cause of discharging their Constitutional responsibilities.

”The idea is to establish a permanent structure as a proactive mechanism that will help to effectively nip in the bud civil unrests with their undesirable attendant effects and disruptive tendencies.

”Provide the populace with the opportunities to channel their grievances on the perceived unethical conducts of Police Personnel to the appropriate quarters for necessary action,” he said.

According to him, the PPCC is composed of the Ministry of Police Affairs (Chair), Police Service Commission, National Human Rights Commission, and an NGO, CLEEN Foundation

Others are Nigeria Police Force, Police Community Relations Committee, Public Complaints Commission, and Police Inspectorate Department (Secretariat).

The minister stressed that the overriding objective of the PPCC is to serve’as-a platform with oversight on the activities of Police Personnel viz a viz their interaction with the public.

He reassured the public that the PPCC had been adequately briefed and prepared to discharge its duties dispassionately.

In his remark, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Usman Baba, who was represented by AIG Zone 8, Ede Ayuba, thanked the minister for the cordial relationship between the police and its supervising ministry.

He further commended the minister for creating the PPCC platform through which the populace could utilise to report abuse of human right by police personnel.

The IGP urged the people to speak out their minds without fear, saying the police are their to serve the people as it is being funded by tax payers money.

In their goodwill messages; the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kogi chapter, Apostle Olaniyan Adebayo; and HRH Dr Muhammadu Maikarfi, the Maigari of Lokoja, enjoined the federal government to improve the welfare of police officers

The royal father urged the police officers not to feel bad whenever a petition was written against them, and admonished the public to convey their grievances politely without being insultive.

Also speaking, the Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kogi chapter, Usman Samuel, said the establishment and full commencement of operation of PPCC was no doubt the answer many Nigerians have been yearning for.

”We believe that this committee is here to give the Nigerian Police Force a whole new look and further improve on the operations of its officers.

”In the wake of the recent clamor for strike by some officers of the Nigerian Police Force, I wish to crave your indulgence sir, to kindly put police welfare into due consideration,” he said.

Samuel urged the federal government to continue to do more and urgently about police welfare.

The general public can submit their petitions via https://ppcc.policeaffairs.gov.ng

ASA/BEKl

Kogi State Government, has inaugurated 10-man Human Rights Special Intervention Group (HRSIG) committee, to help respond to the legal needs of victims of human right abuse to enable them have access to justice.

The Director General, Office of the Public Defender and Citizens Rights Commission (PDCRC) in Kogi, Abdullahi Zakari, who inaugurated the committee in Lokoja, noted that the inauguration was against the persistence violations of the rights of Kogi residents and the inability of the vulnerables to access justice.

According to Zakari, the committee inauguration is a timely response by the pro youth and pro poor Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to ensuring that human rights of residents and citizens of the state is secured.

He explained that due to the #EndSars protest, the governor identified with the youth and promised to set up a special Committee to handle the brutality of the law enforcement officers, which culminated this inauguration.

He noted that the committee members were drawn relevant agencies based on their track records, and urged them to consider their service as to God and humanity.

He enjoined them to respond to issues of domestic violence and abuses directly arises from Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution and all other issues pertaining to violation of the fundamental human rights of residents in the state.

He added that the committee would respond to illegal arrest and detention by law enforcement officers, and submit monthly report to PDCRC; and to carry out assignments that may be assigned from time to time by the commission.

He noted that the committee was constituted on the instruction of the governor to operate under the Office of the PDCRC.

He added that PDCRC was established on June 3, 2019 to respond to needs of access to justice by indigents and ensuring the protection of their human rights.

Zakari explained that the Commission’s mandate is to provide legal services for those who could not afford the cost of hiring lawyers , and to protect citizenry against the brutality and infringement of human rights by law enforcement agencies.

Hecommended the governor for his quick response to the yearnings of the populace as he undertook sweeping reforms of the criminal justice system.

He noted that the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Hon.Ibrahim Sani Mohammed SAN, had been in the forefront of many great reforms in Criminal Justice sector.

He added: ”It is one of the reforms of the attorney general that led to the establishment of PDCRC.

”Kogi State is one of the very few states that has PDCRC to response to the need of access to justice as a critical function of Government.

”The law is to address among other things; the delay in dispensation of cases, provide legal representation for those who couldn’t afford the services of lawyers while being interrogated by law enforcement officers”.

He applauded the governor for his concern for the lawyers who he said were enjoying special salaries like their counterparts in the Magistrates in the State.

He disclosed that the Commission plays roles akin to Legal Aid Council, and the National Human rights Commission. Presently, the Commission is staffed by 12 law officers posted from the Chambers of the Hon Attorney General.

On his part, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Commission, Muizideen Abdullahi charged members of the HRSIG to stand up to the challenges, to treat the assignment with all the attention it deserved, saying, it was a call to service to serve humanity.

He commended the Governor, for being proactive in responding to the ongoing protest on EndSARS before it degenerates into lawlessness, while assuring the members of the committee of Government’s support to enable its succeed.

Members of the committee include: I.O. Alhassan, Chairman; Isaac Adeiza, Secretary. Other members were Iye Adama, DSC Atodo Adama , Asp Mohammed Bala.; M.M Nuhu, Debora Ebiloma and Olarenwaju Atoto.

The members of the Committee are drawn from The Police, DSS, Civil Defence Corps, National Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Justice, NBA, and Office of PDCRC.

In his acceptance speech, the Committee Chairman, Ibrahim Alhassan who doubles as the Vice Chairman of NBA Lokoja branch, assured of his commitment to ensuring the delivery of the mandate to the best of their abilities.

In their separate remarks, representatives of the Attorney General of the State, Police, ActionAid , DSS, NSCDC, NHRC, FIDA commended the Government for the initiative, assuring their readiness to support the course of Justice.

They charged members to exhibit highest character in the discharge of their mandate.

End

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun says there is no cases of Police brutally, intimidation and harassment in the State.

Egbetokun stated this shortly after commissioning the first-ever office building built by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Adewole Division, SP Mustapha Olayemi in Ilorin.

The Police Boss said the Command had not recorded any form of brutality and commended the people for their support and cooperation.

He urged the people not to believe anything they read on social media, but try to verify and establish the truth.

Egbetokun enjoined Nigerians to embrace the spirit of Community Policing to wipe out crime in the Society.

The Police Commissioner reiterated that since his assumption of office in the State, he had just commissioned a building project and called on other Police Officers to embrace the spirit put in place by SP Olayemi.

He said the Police has a procedure of dealing with erring Police Officers found waiting in the discharge of their duties.

Egbetokun stated that the Command had zero tolerance for indiscipline calling on the people to always report cases of misbehavior to the appropriate authority for necessary sanctions.

The Police Boss commended the DPO SP Olayemi, the officers and men of Adewole Division for their commitment and support.

Also speaking at the occasion, a Legal Luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yusuf Ola-Olu Ali commended the foresight of SP Olayemi for the project and enjoined other DPO to emulate the spirit.

Earlier, the DPO Adewole, SP Mustapha Olayemi said he embarked on the project to ease office accommodation being experienced by his men and to enhance their dignity for effective and efficient service delivery.

Olayemi stated that since his assumption of office in the Division, crime had reduced to the bearest minimum as a result of the commitment of his officers and support of the people.

END

Until his death, he was the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) 1 of Akwanga Division.

An eyewitness said that to door to the late police officer’s room was ajar when they met his lifeless body with fumes on his nose and mouth.

He alleged that an unknown lady slept in the room with the dead officer but that she sneaked out when she discovered that the man had died.

Another source said that the lady threw his two phones in the water to avoid tracing and tracking her phone number.

Some residents said that the late DCO was popular and a no nonsense man who usually wake up very early and go round police outposts to supervise policemen changing duty.

They said that Sunday, he did not go for routine inspection until the police who went to check on him found him lifeless.

The spokesperson of Police in Nasarawa State, ASP Nansel Ramhan, confirmed the death of DSP Onugha, but denied if the officer died after sex romp.

According to him: “Corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue of Akwanaga General Hospital for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.”

Daily Trust