The Police command in Zamfara has called on members of the public to report any misconduct by police officers to their superiors or the state police headquarters.
By Ishaq Zaki
The Police command in Zamfara has called on members of the public to report any misconduct by police officers to their superiors or the state police headquarters.
DSP, Yazid Abubakar, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command made the call in Maru Local Government Area of the state on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PPRO spoke at the dialogue session with Stakeholders on Mutual Accountability and Community Scorecards.
The dialogue session was organized by a Civil Society Organization in the state, ‘Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI)’ under a project, ‘Nigerian Police Force Reform Initiative lll, with the technical support from an NGO ‘International Alert Nigeria’.
The session at Maru Local Government Council Secretariat was attended by various stakeholders including traditional and religious leaders, representatives from security agencies, women and youths groups and the Media personnel among others.
The PPRO said that the state police command is concerned about the persistent unprofessional conduct by some police officers, which undermines the standards and reputation of the Nigerian Police Force.
“Despite repeated warnings and disciplinary actions taken against those erring police personnel, some officers are still engaging in these shameful acts that erode public trust.
“We urge members of the public to report any misconduct by police officers to their superiors,” Abubakar said.
The police Spokesperson added that members of the general public have the rights to lodge formal complaints against erring police officers.
“There are right channels to report or complaint against erring police officers by members of the general public.
“There is office of the PPRO at the State Police Command and also Public Complaint Bureau,” he said.
The PPRO also urged members of the public to continue to be law-abiding and always act as good citizens.
Declaring the session open, the Secretary of Maru Local Government Council, Ahmad Usman described it as a welcome development.
Usman assured the Councils’ commitments to continue supporting the peaceful coexistence between the police and community members in the area.
He urged police to give priority in sensitising it officers against misconduct and corruption.
“We received various complaints from members of the communities on various issues of misconducts, corruption and other related offences by police personnel.
“I believe this meeting will promote police/community relations, this session will create more understanding in the society,” he added.
The representative from Maru Emirate Council, Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim assured the emirates support to the peace project.
“On behalf of the Maru Emirate Council, our door is always open to support any programme that will enhance peace and stability and promote mutual understanding between security agencies and members of the community”, he said.
Dr Ahmad Hashim, who facilitated the session, described police community relations as necessary to ensure mutual understanding and peace building in the society.
Hashim called on authorities to enhance condition of service and welfare of police officers in order for them to reduce misconducts and other offences.
He called on members of the public to cooperate with the Nigerian police in order to enhance peace building.
Earlier, the Executive Director VAI, Musa Umar said the session was aimed at creating awareness to the stakeholders on police community relations and peace building in the society.
“This is a very important project that requires stakeholders participation to promote police community relations as well as general peace building in the society.,” Umar said.(NAN)