The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu, has decried the worsening human rights violations in the Southeast states of the country and threatened that the Commission will no longer tolerate this serious act of indiscipline from any serving Police Officer.
DIG Argungu said the Commission will henceforth not hesitate to put its disciplinary processes in motion to see to the dismissal of errant Officers who have found it difficult to work within approved boundaries.
He spoke at the South East Stakeholders Summit on Peace
and security and Public Hearings on Human Rights violations in South East of Nigeria which are 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 serious human rights violations by some misguided Police Officers in the South East, ” 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”.
DIG Argungu said he was excited that the summit is held in Enugu, the colonial capital of Eastern Nigeria. According to him, the Eastern Region has of late become the hotbed 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.
The PSC Chairman said the Commission wholeheartedly identifies with the Organizers “on this mission in the South East, adding that the zone needs peace and security.
According to DIG Argungu, “The Commission is very much interested in what is happening here especially as it affects the entire South East.
“we 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 and killing their brothers and sisters”
He said the Commission has also continued to observe the corruption and extortion that dots all 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 roadblocks mounted by these security Agencies, he lamented ” 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 Police Men 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 had crippled the economy of the state and other South East states.
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.
