By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
The Police and Civil Liberties Organisation,CLO, has pledged to forge a better working relationship inorder to stem the tide of allegations and perpetuation of human right abuses and violations on civilians.
The two organisations made the pledge when Executive members of Akwa Ibom state branch of CLO led by it’s chairman, Barr Godknows Njoku paid an advocacy visit to the Ikot Ekpene Area Commander of the Nigerian Police, Assitant Commissioner of Police, ACP Adamu Damji yesterday at Ikot Ekpene.
Njoku at the occasion commended Damji for innovations he has deployed in reducing crime in the area but harped on the need for officers and men to continue to adhere to laid down rules in their dealings with civilians.
The chairman who expressed dissatisfaction with some reports of police brutality in some parts of the area also reminded the ACP of the new rules guiding the prosecution of suspects by IPOs.
He described the CLO as a great partner to the police as both organisations play the role of ensuring a free and safe society and pledged the coperation of the organisation towards ensuring that the good work of the police is not left unnoticed.
The ACP in his reaction maintained that the new Police operations code has increasingly embedded civil policing adding that most officers who abide by the code have been doing their work with increased human face but added that, “in every twelve there must be a Judas”.
He called for understanding and restraint from the citizens as their operations have over the years been hampered by logistics challenges adding that a blanket condemnation of the Police remained unfair and could discourage gallant acts by many good officers.
Damji said that incidences of unlawful detention has been reduced by the reason of the different strategies deployed in the area command and called for inputs from stakeholders to further reduce this.
The ACP said that inspite of serious neglect, the Police has been at the forefront of maintainance of security in the country while the office of the IGP has continued to initiate strategies aimed at tackling corruption in the force and increasing professionalism.
He commended the CLO for fighting for the less privileged and also helping to improve professionalism among officers by their activities, adding that the area command would be open to increased collaboration with the organisation.
