Stakeholders in Ebonyi State, including the Nigeria Police Force, have expressed deep concern over the growing trend of jungle justice and other unlawful acts across the country. They called on citizens to uphold the rule of law and embrace peaceful conflict resolution methods.
The call was made on Thursday during a Town Hall Meeting in Abakaliki, held as part of the activities to commemorate the upcoming National Police Day on April 7. The event was themed: “Police and the Community: Strengthening Cooperation for Improved Service Delivery.”
Stakeholders Condemn Jungle Justice and Police Misconduct
During the meeting, several speakers condemned the alarming rate of jungle justice in Nigeria, urging citizens to avoid taking the law into their own hands. Stakeholders also spoke against issues such as police extortion, harassment, molestation, and extra-judicial killings.
Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, CP Anthonia Uche-Anya, emphasized that the forum aimed to identify security challenges and develop actionable strategies for ensuring maximum protection of lives and property.
“It is unlawful for any individual to take the life of another. Citizens must follow due process to report and address any security concerns,” she stressed.
Uche-Anya reiterated the Police Force’s zero-tolerance policy on extortion and unlawful activities by officers. She reminded the public that checking a citizen’s phone at a checkpoint is illegal unless the person is under formal investigation.
Students Decry Police Harassment
Nwanneka David, Ex-Officio of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ebonyi Chapter, spoke passionately against what she described as routine harassment of students by the police.
“Students are frequently tagged as ‘Yahoo Boys’ without cause. We need the Commissioner to intervene and stop this profiling,” David stated.
Adding his voice, Mr. Chidi Igboji, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Ebonyi, decried the unprofessional conduct among some police officers and called for frequent training and re-orientation.
Traditional leader Mr. Sunday Oketa of the Nkaliki-Echara Unuhu Autonomous Community praised the current efforts in community policing, urging for continued collaboration between stakeholders and the police to foster safer neighborhoods.
The town hall meeting highlighted the urgent need for trust-building between law enforcement and the public, especially in tackling the menace of jungle justice and police misconduct. Stakeholders agreed that sustained dialogue, training, and accountability would go a long way in improving service delivery and public confidence in the police force.
