Aleke Aleke in Abuja
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has alleged that the police and other security agencies are extorting road users at gunpoint in the South-east.
The Commission also averred that the roadblocks mounted by these security agencies have unfortunately turned into toll gates where road users are forced under gunpoint to part with money.
Speaking at the ongoing South East Stakeholders Summit on Peace and Security and Public Hearing on Human Rights Violations in the Zone, the Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd), said the South-east must be freed from these gangs of police officers and other security agents who have found it difficult to work within established boundaries.
Represented by Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the Chairman also decried the worsening cases of human rights violations by police officers in the South-east.
The Chairman threatened that the Commission will no longer tolerate such serious acts of indiscipline from any serving police officer.
Argungu stressed that the Commission will henceforth not hesitate to initiate its disciplinary processes to ensure the dismissal of errant officers who have difficulty working within approved boundaries.
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According to a statement by Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations, the Commission is aware of the serious human rights violations by some misguided police officers in the South-east.
He said that despite the Commission’s repeated warnings to stay away from civil matters, these officers,
have continued to intervene due to the financial benefits.
Argungu said the Commission has repeatedly 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,” the Chairman revealed.
Argungu added, “The Commission has continued to observe corruption and extortion that plagues all the roads traversing the region, perpetrated by virtually all the security operatives who are supposed to safeguard the roads and restore unhindered movement of people, goods, and services”.
Argungu said he was excited that the summit is being held in Enugu, the colonial capital of Eastern Nigeria.
According to him, the Eastern region has recently become the hotbed of insecurity in the country and the unofficial headquarters of human rights violations.
He commended the organizers for shedding light on this critical national issue. The Chairman said the Commission identifies with the organizers in their mission in the South-east, adding that the zone needs peace and security.
He said: “The Commission is very interested in what is happening here, especially as it affects the entire South-east.
“We are no longer comfortable with the abuse of office by some security personnel assigned to provide security across the region.
“We understand that there is a high level of insecurity in the zone, particularly due to the relentless and senseless attacks by brainwashed youths from this zone who claim to be freedom fighters but kill their brothers and sisters”.
He commended the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, for the transformative governance 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 order that had crippled the economy of the state and other Southeast states,” the Chairman 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, as well as other emerging security threats in the South-east.”
