Rakiya A. Muhammad
Federal Government has expressed commitment to bridging the gap between the police and the populace to engender sustainable confidence and cooperation.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, gave the assurance at the North Central Zone sensitisation campaign on the Police Public Complaints Committee (PPCC) and its mandate.
“Following the directive of Mr. President, I resuscitated and inaugurated the Police Public Complaints Committee (PPCC) in Abuja on 7th April 2021, to, among other things, bridge the gap between the police and the populace to engender sustainable confidence and mutual cooperation,” he disclosed.
The Minister, represented by the Director Legal, Mr Bolarinde Omoluabi, added that the initiative further advanced President Muhammadu Buhari’s quest to attain people-centred policing arrangements.
It prioritises respect for citizens’ rights, addressing genuine cases of infractions to promote inclusiveness in policing engagement with the public, and advancing peace and security for national development, he asserted.
“Our gathering here is to sensitise Nigerians on actions to take when Police officers trample upon their rights in the cause of discharging their constitutional responsibilities,” Dingyadi explained.
“The idea is to establish a permanent structure as a proactive mechanism that will help nip in the bud civil unrests with undesirable attendant effects and disruptive tendencies.”
He added that the initiative would provide the populace with the opportunities to channel their grievances on the perceived unethical conduct of Police Personnel to the appropriate quarters for necessary action.
In a remark, the representative of Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Aliu Lawan Jiya (Maiyoki of Lokoja), lauded the opportunity for the members of the public to air their views about human rights abuse by the police.
He pointed out that the sensitisation campaign came when the insecurity situation called for a periodic review of strategies to deal with all issues.
Chair, National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kogi State Chapter, Mr. Ogohi Usman, noted the resuscitation of the PPCC as a landmark achievement.
He added that if it had been on the ground, it would have averted the EndSARS protest. Usman reiterated the support of the youths to the Ministry and the Nigeria Police Force.
The NYCN Kogi helmsman urged the government to take the welfare of the Police as paramount. Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chair, Special Apostle Dr Olaniyan Adebayo Emmanuel, described the sensitisation as apt.
Among stakeholders in attendance included members of civil society, youth organisations, women groups, religious/traditional institutions, and rank-and-file police officers.
