Police Commissioner Extends hands of Fellowship to ‘Bloody Civilians’

…Creates Citizens’ Complaint Centre

By Joseph Umoh

            The days of illegal charges at Police stations and bribery on roads by men of the Nigerian Police Force have ended as the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal has read riot acts to erring officer as well as empowered members of the public with sufficient information dissemination mechanism.

            In a press release issued by the Police Boss, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko MacDon and made available to Century Newsfront states that the police will deal decisively to any officer found guilty. The statement reads in part, “propelled by the need to provide qualitative police services to the people of Akwa Ibom State and in order to address challenges raised during the various town hall meetings held with the people of Akwa Ibom State and in a bid to realize his community policing and community safety partnership vision, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal has provided ten (10) dedicated hotlines for Akwa Ibom residents to call at any time using the native dialect or English Language, to report unprofessional conduct of any police personnel which is capable of denting the image of the Force in the state. He therefore urged residents of the state to take advantage of the citizens complaint hotlines to report every form of professional misconduct such as soliciting money for bail, extortion on the highways, incivility to members of the public and any other conduct contrary to the disciplinary and operational standards of the Force”.

The statement added that in order to achieve success in this regard, the following 24/7 dedicated and active phone numbers have been made available to members of the public for any complaints and useful information, noted that any language and dialect spoken in the state could be used for fluent and easy communication. 07031823963, 09020047718, 09063143039, 09039515967, 07019358767, 09034151445, 08137607100, 09028528344, 09070512365 and 09066095467.

Some members of the public who reacted to the development described it as a welcome and well thought creation but maintained that those operating the lines should not sabotage the effort of the Commissioner by refusing to pick the calls. One of those who reacted via social media platform, Mr. Joseph Effiong noted that the issue of not picking calls have been the reason members of the public lose confident in the system.

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