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The Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC in Rivers State has described as untrue the insinuation and claims by certain individuals and groups that indiscipline,brutality and human rights abuse is thriving in Rivers State Police Command under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The Chairman of PCRC in Rivers State,Mr Voke Emore who was responding to claims made by an activist on a popular radio programme over the weekend clarified that the assertion of the activist and few persons is not correct.
The Rivers PCRC helmsman maintained that contrary to the claims and insinuation by the activist and few others, CP Adeloju have addressed human rights abuses by few erring officers squarely and punitive measures carried out against officers found culpable in course of investigation.
He cited the removal of DPO of Abali park by the CP some months ago whom officers under his watch were said to have fired tear gas against journalists and protesters few months ago as a good example of the CP’s zero tolerance to unprofessional conduct.
“The PCRC has equally brought cases of human rights infraction to the CP and disciplinary actions were taken against the erring officers”Mr Emore said
Mr Emore said while unprofessional conduct by employees cannot be ruled out in any profession including the Nigeria Police Force, the response and attention given to the issue by the authority of such organizations should also be taken into account.
The Rivers PCRC Chairman maintained that CP Adepoju and Rivers Police Command should be commended for responding swiftly to allegations of human rights abuses,ensuring prompt arrest of accused officers and instituting unbiased investigation.
He disclosed that the Rivers CP in his commitment to uphold rights of citizens recently partnered with Rivers PCRC, FIDA to re-train gender based desk officers across various divisions,tactical units and other police formations in the state to compliment the 6 months training exercise already being carried out by the Rivers State Police Command and regular lectures on human rights at the Division,Area Command and State levels.
Mr Emore said PCRC as an organization which is a bridge between the Police and the community, is urging members of the public who encounter any human rights infraction by officers to report to the Police authority,as adequate attention will be given to such complaint.
The Rivers PCRC Command reaffirmed the confidence of the organization on CP Adepoju and his men in ensuring a crime free state.
