NOA calls for reduction of violence training for Police

Aba. Feb. 1, 2022 

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Abia Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Ngozi Okechukwu has called on Police authorities to train their men on reduction of violence and adoption of standard use of force.

 

Okechukwu also asked for establishment of rigorous recruitment criteria for the Police that would allow for critical assessments of attitudes, motivations, psychological makeup, and quality above basic knowledge.

The NOA director made the call in Aba on Tuesday at a press briefing organized by Youths and Students Advocates for Development Initiative (YSAD) in furtherance of their campaign against extortion of road users by security agents.

She also charged the legislators to initiate legislation granting watchdog licences to Civil Society Organisations and Human Rights agencies to supervise and call public attention to accountability issues in the police.

Okechukwu recommended introduction of stiff punishments efficiently upheld against internal and external interference of investigations into police misconduct.

She said such steps would serve as a deterrent against persons who try to influence or interfere with ongoing investigations as well as reposition the police as a citizen-friendly organization

Obinna Nwagbara, Chief Executive Officer of YSAD earlier called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba to ensure the stopping of extortion on Highways in the South-East.

“Shall we also forget the resolution of the House of Representatives last December, calling for the dismantling of checkpoints but what we saw were more checkpoints with gun-wielding officials  in 'open bazar' on our roads.

"Sadly, almost all checkpoint-mounting agencies including the police, army, FRSC and various task forces across the states were active in this show of shame on our roads this past yuletide.

“They openly collected “tolls” from motorists and even making change for those who so demanded or who gave them higher denominations”, he said.

Nwagbara therefore urged the leadership of security agencies to do more than mere issuing of orders to their subordinates and save Nigeria from another ENDSARS experience.

He also  called on motorists to obey traffic rules at all times in order not to be forced into the lawless act of giving bribes.