By Uche Amunike
The Acting Inspector General of Police (AIG) Kayode Egbetokun, Wednesday, unveiled a Complaints Response Unit at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, in the Ikeja area of Lagos.
While giving Nigerians the assurance that the response unit will function in every state in the country, he lauded the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, for championing the initiative and maintained that the aim of establishing the unit was not to witch-hunt police officers, but rather, to promote accountability in the police force. He further stated that the new unit would be controlled by officers that have shown integrity in the force.
His words: ‘I want to commend the Commissioner of Police for the prompt establishment of the Complaint Response Unit in Lagos. The Complaint Response Unit is established not to witch-hunt policemen but to promote accountability in the police. It is going to enhance police-community collaboration and build confidence in the members of the public.’
‘Officers who are going to man this unit are going to be carefully selected. They are going to be officers with impeccable integrity. They will be trained and be given regular training including opportunities for overseas training. We are going to equip the Unit and make it functional across the states of the federation to demonstrate our genuine commitment to transparency.’
The AIG, kayode Egbetokun, also explained that he was making efforts to get rid of criminals in certain troubled parts of the country, which was why he commenced mobilization of personnel for the proposed special intervention. Hear him: ‘We are embarking on the establishment of a special intervention squad. We have started mobilization to make a success of that. And very soon, the SIS will start operation in the states that we have chosen as pilot states. Just give us a little more time and you will start seeing our actions yield results.’
‘Luckily we have a government in place that cares about the welfare of the police officers and the challenges relating to welfare. I have assurances from Mr. President that efforts are underway to bring smiles to the faces of policemen in Nigeria.’
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Owohunwa, assured that the rights of police operatives would always be protected against malicious complaints that are submitted by the members of the public, adding that by next week, its publicity will kick off.
He disclosed that the Complaints Response Unit features an application for e-reporting, which makes it possible for citizens to send their crime reports from the comfort of their homes or offices without bothering with going to the police station to file a complaint.
Among those who declared their support to the Nigerian Police Force in the establishment of more of the Complaint Response Units across other states of the federation are Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata.
