C’River residents urge strict implementation of police withdrawal from VIPs

Some residents of Cross River have called for strict implementation of the presidential directive to withdraw police officers on from protection duties with Very Important Persons (VIPs).

The residents who spoke in separate interviews with newsmen in Calabar on Monday, said that selective implementation would defeat the essence of the decision.

It would be recalled that the presidency directed the withdrawal of police from VIPs in order to deploy them to critical need areas across the country.

One of residents, Mba Ukweni a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said that although that was not the first time such directive would be made, strict implementation was critical at the moment.

“If strictly implemented, this will be one of the best decisions to be made by this administration in addressing the security challenges in the country,” he said.

Ukweni expressed worry that about half of the nation’s police workforce were being utilised to protect the elite class.

The lawyer described the decision as ‘a welcome development’ saying that it would make the elite to feel the real state of the country.

He further stated that there were no court-duty police officers anymore, describing the development as risky and dangerous.

“I recall an incident where a murder suspect ran away from the court in Cross River due to the absence of policemen on court-duty.

“The critical security gaps in Nigeria can be traced to excessive deployment of police personnel to the elite, this directive from the president is long overdue.

Also speaking, Dr Macphalane Ejah, the Executive Director, International Training Research and Advocacy Project (INTRAP), said that such directives had been given several times in the passed without strict implementation.

Ejah said that the police-citizen ratio in Nigeria still remained a challenge, and that such gap could not be closed by mere withdrawal of policemen from VIPs.

The INTRAP executive director said that although the directive was a step in the right direction, Nigeria lacked enough police officers.

“Without fear of contradiction, I have lost faith in statements being made by the government on the issue of insecurity,” he said.

In his view, Mr Richard Inoyo, a Human Rights Advocate, described the decision as purely cosmetic and lacking in genuine commitment.

Inoyo, also the Country Director, Citizens Solution Network, questioned whether the police officers attached to highly placed political leaders would also be withdrawn.

He argued that removing officers from the elite would not tackle the more critical issues of corruption and inequality which were the major causes of insecurity.

“Insecurity is thriving because leaders have neglected the welfare of the people, which is central to national stability. They do not support policies that ensure fair resource distribution.

“Credible reforms require honesty and reduced privileges to the political and elite classes. It requires genuine efforts to improve citizens’ living conditions,” he said.

Inoyo urged governments at various levels to embrace fairness in order to make meaningful progress in the campaign against insecurity.