PRESENTATION BY THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANISATION (CLO), AKWA IBOM STATE BRANCH DURING A SPECIAL SECURITY STAKEHOLDERS MEETING WITH THE DEPUTY INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE IN CHARGE OF THE SOUTH-SOUTH REGION, DIG MOSES JITOBOH, AT THE GODSWILL AKPABIO HALL, POLICE HEADQUARTERS, IKOT AKPAN ABIA, UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE ON MONDAY, 24TH MAY, 2021
Introduction
The CLO was invited to a Special Security Stakeholders Meeting with the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Moses Jitoboh, who is in charge of the South South Region, through an invitation dated 21st May, 2021 with reference number CB:3380/AIS/DFA/VOL.T1/178. The letter of invitation, signed for the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State by DCP Taiwo Jesubiyi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admin) welcomed CLO to make inputs and engagements in achieving a secured and peaceful Akwa Ibom State. The invitation stated that the meeting is scheduled for today, Monday, 24th May, 2021 at the Godswill Akpabio Hall, Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
CLO’s Submission
In view of the present security challenges in the South-South Region and other parts of the country, and in order to achieve a secured and peaceful Akwa Ibom State, the CLO makes the following submission:
(1) Logistics and Equipment of the Police: The security agencies in Akwa Ibom State, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, should be properly equipped and provided with modern operational logistics. These include operational vehicles, modern security gadgets, boots, uniforms, helmets and protective head gears, anti-riot shields, bullet-proof vests, stationery and administrative forms, chairs, lockers and writing desks.
(2) Funding:
The Police in the State, as well as the entire country, should be properly funded. Budgetary allocation to the Police should be increased in order to ensure that adequate funds are provided to unit, divisional and operational heads of the Nigeria Police Force. The current low level of funding is deplorable and gives room to the resort to extortion, which derogates the integrity, dignity, esteem and self-worth of the Police.
(3) Training and Retraining:
Officers and men/women of the Nigeria Police Force should be properly trained. They should also be given regular opportunities for retraining, through seminars and workshops. To enhance operational capability, they should be exposed to daily physical exercises. Care should be taken to ensure that the training and retraining involve a good measure of education and enlightenment on national and international human rights standards. The human rights unit should be strengthened. There should be regular interface between the Police, the civil society, and civil society organisations.
(4) Police Welfare:
The welfare and well-being of officers and men/women of the Nigeria Police Force should be given priority. There should be promotions when due while exceptional operatives should be rewarded promptly to motivate such operatives and their colleagues. Gratuities and pensions should be revisited with a view to improvement. Gratuities and pensions should be paid promptly. The insurance scheme should be revisited and improved. Officers and men/women and their families deserving insurance disbursements should be paid promptly.
(5) Police/Community Relations:
With proper, regular training and retraining as well as regular interface with the civil society organisations, it is expected that police/community relationship will improve. This will create an enabling environment for the restoration of mutual respect between the Police and members of the public. With this envisaged state of things, trust for the Police by the public will be restored. This will have the ripple effect of ensuring peace and security in Akwa Ibom State.
At this point, the CLO, a foremost international human rights and civil society organisation, wishes to commend the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Andrew Amiengheme, officers and men/women of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, particularly the Commander of the Quick Response Squad (QRS), CSP Udofia Titus and his team, for their unrelenting efforts in ensuring that Akwa Ibom State and its people are safe.
Conclusion
We are pleased to have been invited to this stakeholders meeting and we trust that our input will go a long way in helping the Police and other security agencies to foster peace and security in Akwa Ibom State.
Signed:
Otuekong Franklyn Isong
(State Chairman)
Comrade Nsemeke Udoakpan
(Vice Chairman)
Comrade (Barr.) Christopher Ekpo
(State Secretary)
Comrade (Barr.) Eyibio Okon
(Legal Secretary)
Comrade (Barr.) Godknows Njoku
(Treasurer)
