By Onuora Aninwobodo
Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Hashimu Argungu, has decried growing human rights violations in the South East states of the country, saying the Commission will no longer tolerate this act of indiscipline from any serving Police Officer.
Argungu said the Commission will henceforth not hesitate to put its disciplinary processes in motion to see to the dismissal of errant officers.
He spoke at the South East Stakeholders Summit on Peace
and Security and Public Hearing on Human Rights violations in South East of Nigeria which is currently ongoing in Enugu.
His goodwill message at the Summit was presented on his behalf by the Head of Press and Public Relations/ Spokesman of the Commission, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani.
The PSC Chairman said the Commission is aware of the human rights violations by some Police Officers, ” who against the Commission’s several warnings to stay away from civil matters have continued to swim in it because of the financial attraction”.
He said the Commission has severally warned that Police Officers should stay clear of land matters, debt and rent collection, marital disputes and other civil matters and allow the courts to do their duties.
” But we have discovered that the allure of filthy money has become their albatross as they have continued to perpetuate this evil act”, he said.
Argungu said he was excited that the summit is holding in Enugu because the Eastern Region has of late become the hot bed of insecurity in the country and the unofficial Headquarters of Human Rights violations.
He commended the organizers of the programme for bringing the searchlight on this topical national issue.
According to Argungu, “the Commission is very much interested in what is happening here especially as it affects the entire South East.
“W are no more comfortable with the abuse of office by some security personnel detailed to provide security across the region. We understand there is a high level of insecurity in the zone especially with the ceaseless and senseless attacks from brainwashed youths from this zone masquerading as freedom fighters killing their brothers and sisters. “
He said the Commission has also continued to observe the corruption and extortion on the roads traversing the region ” by virtually all the security operatives who are supposed to safeguard the roads and restore unhindered movement of people, goods and services.” The road blocks mounted by these security Agencies have unfortunately turned into toll gates where road users are forced under gunpoint to part with money”.
The PSC Chairman told the summit that the South East must be freed of these gangs of policemen who have found it difficult to work within established boundaries.
He commended the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah for the transformative governance that he has brought to the state especially in the area of security.
” I am aware that Enugu State has redeemed itself from the Monday sit at home that has crippled the economy of the state and other South East states”, he said.
He assured the Governor that the Commission will always stand by him to collectively fight “this war to comprehensively free the zone of banditry, crime and criminality and other emerging security menace in the South East of Nigeria.”
