By Peter Duru, Makurdi
The Deputy Inspector General of Police DIG in charge of ‘E’ Department, Mr. Declan Uzoma has decried the rising cases of Police brutality, arbitrary arrest and detention of members of the public, warning that a stop should be put to the ugly development as it was giving the Nigeria Police a bad name.
DIG Uzoma made this outcry in Makurdi at an interactive conference with officers and men of the Benue State Police Command which also had in attendance the AIG Zone 4, and the Benue State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed.

He urged officers and men of the force to live up to their responsibilities, stressing that as police officers they must strive to elicit public confidence in their activities which he noted was part of their primary responsibilities.

He stressed that in this political era, it is incumbent on the force to ensure the strict adherence to the principles of rule of law and respect for the tenets of human rights.

Speaking on the essence of community policing, the DIG noted that it was aimed at fostering close working relationship between the police and the public in order to effectively combat incidents of crime in the society.

He also directed all police commands to establish Special Anti Robbery Squads in order to increase efficiency in the various commands and also act as supportive group in the handling of emergency cases.

DIG Uzoma further stressed that such anti robbery squads would also act as a swift response team for effective command control in emergency cases, giving reference to the Jos crisis.

He also regretted the rising cases of indiscipline among the ranks and files blaming the situation on poor performance and lack of commitment on the part of some officers.

He advised police commands to strengthen their Criminal Investigation Bureau CIB which he noted was the hub of crime bursting in the force, for better intelligence reports to fight crime in the society.

Earlier in his remarks at the occasion, the Benue State Police Commissioner, Alh Ibrahim Mohammed intimated the visiting DIG of the success so far recorded by his command in the fight of crime in the state.

CP Mohammed intimated that his command and the Benue State government was working in close collaboration to ensure that the state was crime free.