JUST IN; IG of Police orders Police Commands to involve PCRC in their operations
JUST IN; IG of Police orders Police Commands to involve PCRC in their operations
The Inspector-General of Police(I-G), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered States, Area and Divisional Cmmands to involve the members of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in their routine operations.
The News of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Egbetokun disclosed this at the PCRC’s maiden executive national training, with the theme :`Strengthening The PCRC System For Optimum Service Delivery’’, on Thursday in Abuja.
Represented by the AIG in charge of Zone 7, Mr Ben Igwe, the I-G said the action was necessary in view of the significant role of PCRC in community policing.
He said that the Nigerian police was unwaveringly committed to strengthening the capacity of PCRC operations especially on combating criminal activities in the country.
“All Commissioners of Police, Divisional officers and Area commands have been duly informed to provide security and support to the PCRC in their respective areas of responsibilities,’’ he said.
Egbetokun said that as part of the government’s policing agenda, his office and the Police Service Commission have been making efforts to change the pattern of policing in Nigeria, silently, diligently, and authoritatively.
“The changes will give us the leverage to do more policing for Nigeria and Nigerians as a whole,’’ the I-G said.
He also enjoined the PCRC members to adopt a new approach to community policing, adding that policing was eerybody’s business that requires the involvement of all members of the society including the security agents.
“ As an individual citizen or resident of Nigeria, you have power of arrest , the constitution has granted you authority to do that.
“It is not in everything you call the police, the law gives two or three of you powers to arrest, and before or within 24 hours take you to the nearest police,’’ he said.
The Police boss, therefore, congratulated the National Chairman and other PCRC members for the association’s achievements within the last 4O years of its existence.
Also speaking , the Minister of Police Affairs, Sen. Ibrahim Gaidam, said community policing remained central to the nation’s strategic plan for fostering safe and resilient communities.
Represented by Mrs Bola Aderele, a Director in the ministry,, he said, `Through PCRC , we aim to deepen collaboration between the police and the public, build mutual rust and share a sense of responsibility.”
According to him, technology has become a game changer in modern policing which necessitates the adoption of new approaches to crime control mechanisms.
“To enhance operational efficiency the Federal Government had invested in advanced technological tools such as surveillance systems and crime databases to improve intelligence sharing,’’ Gaidam said.
Earlier, the National Chairman, Alhaji Mogaji Olaniyan, said the conference was to encourage PCRC members towards rendering selfless service to the country especially in the area of security,
“ The training is also designed for stakeholders to use the PCRC platform to suggest ways the community can support the police and achieve a better service delivery to the community,’’ he said.
Olaniyan thanked the I-G, Ministry of Police Affairs and other stakeholders for sustainably promoting the activities of PCRC nationwide. (NAN)
Adaramodu while speaking to The Nation yesterday, explained that there is currently no official complaint before the Senate to trigger an inquiry into the allegations made by the Kogi Central senator.
The call for an investigation gained traction after the Pan-North socio-political group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), joined other commentators urging for a transparent probe into the matter.
Speaking on a national television program over the weekend, Senator Apoti-Uduaghan claimed that she had been subjected to victimisation by Senate President Akpabio after rejecting his sexual advances.
In response, Akpabio’s wife, Nnoma, vehemently denied the accusations and filed a N250 billion defamation lawsuit against Apoti-Uduaghan.
However, Adaramodu emphasized last night that, despite the allegations, neither Mrs. Apoti-Uduaghan nor anyone else has formally submitted a sexual harassment complaint to the Senate, leaving the matter outside the body’s jurisdiction for now.
He said: “There is no allegation before the Senate. There is none from anybody for that matter. So we don’t pick allegations on television screen or from social media.
“So, nobody has lodged any allegation with anybody or anyone in the Senate.
“So, the only issue that is on ground is the breach of the Standing Orders which has been referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions.
“And I don’t think there’s any other petition or any other complaint before the head committee. So, you will not be… that means there is nothing to refer to the ethics committee again?
“Unless if anybody brings anything up. So it will be dealt with accordingly. So, for now there is none than the one that we have referred.
“So, we can be hearing so many things from outside, but within the Senate, no allegation against anybody, no complaints from anybody and no case has been presented to us.”
Also yesterday, Eseme Eyiboh, the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, supported the Senate spokesman’s statement, emphasizing that the Senate cannot investigate allegations that are not officially brought before it.
Eyiboh said: “For example, she went to court. There is nowhere in her statement of claims that the issue of sexual harassment is mentioned.
“There is no way from what is in public domain now and there has never been any time she has brought this to the attention of the Senate on points of privilege that she has been sexually harassed.
“It’s only a visitor or a first-timer or a stranger who visits his or her guests that is introduced, is taken around the house or taken around the compound.
“But somebody who is a familiar person in that household may have been taken around the first time he or she came.
“It’s very strange and sad that we are hearing that Senator Natasha and the husband, their family is very close to the family of the Senator, Godswill Akpabio, the Senate president. They have been visiting each other. It’s not hidden.
“So, is it just in 2023 during Senator Akpabio’s birthday that they were conducted around; all along, the families were all bonding and getting on together, visiting each other. They didn’t know the house.
“That is one fact we must interrogate. Then, number two, the same way Senator Natasha is a very beautiful lady in creation.
“But I can also tell you that the substance in his allegations are not elegant and anybody who pays attention to it is embarking on the on a trip of fantasy.”
News
CAN calls for unity among Churches to resist alleged efforts to islamise Nigeria
CAN calls for unity among Churches to resist alleged efforts to islamise Nigeria
In response to purported attempts to Islamise Nigeria, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on churches nationwide to band together.
When a team from the College of Bishops, a branch of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, paid a courtesy call on the leadership of the umbrella organization for Christians, Bishop Chris Nyong, Chairman of CAN in Akwa Ibom State, made the call.
During his speech, Nyong voiced alarm about what he called serious efforts to turn Nigeria into a country with a majority of Muslims. He raised concerns about the possible danger to Nigeria’s religious diversity by citing other nations where comparable initiatives have been successful.
“Country like Turkey, Morocco, etc, were originally Christian countries but today they have all been Islamised. It should not be so in Nigeria.
“It is very important for all followers of the Lord Jesus Christ to come together to resist moves by certain power groups to Islamise Nigeria, which is a secular state, and it must remain that way.
“His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star seems to have been standing alone. We all should come together to resist these moves.
“Everyone has the fundamental human rights to worship what he believes in.
“The body of Christians in Nigeria should join forces to promote love, peace and greater unity of Nigeria”, he stressed.
Nyong urged Christians to avoid acrimony, hatred, and division, stressing the importance of unity within the faith.
In response, the Dean of the BCS College of Bishops, The Patriarch Shepherd Bassey Imowo, praised CAN for its efforts in advancing Christianity.
Imowo also called on everyone to embrace love and forgiveness, highlighting that love has the power to overcome all challenges.
News
Suspect apprehended for drugs, not for wearing dreadlocks – Police reveal
Suspect apprehended for drugs, not for wearing dreadlocks – Police reveal
The Police Command in Lagos State, has clarified that the man seen in a viral video being manhandled by police officers was arrested for alleged illegal possession of drugs, not for wearing dreadlocks.
The command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, made this clarification in a post on his X handle, @BenHundeyin, on Monday.
In the video, which began trending on social media, a voice could be heard claiming that the man was apprehended and assaulted for having dreadlocks and looking like a fraudster.
Responding to the video, Hundeyin dismissed the claim as false.
“The narrative is false, misleading, and malicious,” he said.
“The suspect was arrested at Bassey Street in the Egbeda area of Lagos State based on complaints from residents about the activities of young men abusing and selling drugs openly.
“The police responded and the young man was indeed caught with hard drugs.
“Due to his resistance and struggle, minimal force was used to subdue him, ” the spokeperson said.
According to the image maker, the suspect alongside others arrested will be prosecuted accordingly.(NAN)