The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Neighbourhood Watch

  • ‘Neighbourhood Watch will aid violence’

    Leaders of Rivers State, under the aegis of Rivers Elders and Leaders Council (RELEC), have raised the alarm over Governor Nyesom Wike’s controversial Neighbourhood Watch Law, saying it will signpost another round of violence, which can escalate into a civil war.

    RELEC, through its Chairman, Chief Albert Horsfall, a former director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), warned that with both the government and the All Progressives Congress (APC), planning parallel neighbourhood watch groups, it could spell doom.

    The elders said: “Since coming up with the idea of the Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps, reactions and counter-reactions have trailed the law, especially as it relates to bearing arms by members of the agency, among other provisions.

    “Given the recent violence that happened in Rivers State, arguments by those in favour and against the Neighbourhood Watch Law will only start another around of crisis, with unimaginable consequences.

    “For Rivers State leaders to profess to set up the Neighbourhood Watch of armed youths all around the state and for it to be done on a purely political basis of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)/APC is the most dangerous enterprise for our current political leadership on both sides to attempt to engage in. This development, when it fully happens, will certainly lead the state into another civil war.”

    While recalling events that trailed the Civil War of 1967 to 1970, the elders lamented that many who died were oblivious of what the leaders were fighting for.

    RELEC said: “God forbid that some young, hot-headed political leaders will once again lead Rivers State back to another throw of possible Civil War.

    “We are calling on all sides in this heartless campaign of undesirable rivalry to stop forthwith. Their reckless utterances and activities can only lead Rivers State to another violent confrontation. Their confrontational outbursts can cause this state avoidable bloodshed. It may soon lead to physical confrontation by their supporters.

    “They must rather resort to dialogue and they must stop sowing the seed of bad blood and longtime enmity among the citizenry, who after all are kinsmen and women, brothers and sisters and need to remain so and not to be led to the path of longtime enmity and dislike of one another.”

    The group insisted that Rivers people need peace, security and good governance, while calling on others in the state to intervene.

    RELEC said: “We need to leave a united, peaceful and progressive Rivers State for our young ones and future generations, not to destroy the state for them, simply on the basis of personal misunderstanding and quarrels.

    “A word is sufficient for the wise. Let us, once again, remind the combatants that Rivers State was established and built on the sacrifices and blood of our departed sons and daughters. No one has the right to destroy Rivers State or sow the seeds of permanent discord that will lead to its destruction.”

    Rivers elders, commenting on restructuring, stressed that they will back genuine efforts to right wrongs of the past, but noted that politicians must not repeat the ills of what formed the agitation for restructuring.

    RELEC said: “We have been advocates of restructuring, but from some of the things we are seeing right now, we hope that we are right to ask for restructuring, because it will place more powers in the hands of states’ leadership, politicians and we do not want to think that they are incapable of handling the powers maturely.

    “We must, therefore, advise and caution political leadership to show maturity, sensibility and caution in the exercise of political powers, in the interest of all concerned, not for their own personal or group political interest.”

  • ‘Operatives of Neighbourhood Watch can’t bear arms’

    The Inter-ethnic Network for Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (INCRA) has said that it is illegal for operatives of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s Neighbourhood Watch Corps to bear arms.

    It said its members would resort to self-defence by mobilising a counter group, Neighbourhood Defenders, if the Neighbourhood Watch Corps. was not proscribed and the law enabling it repealed.

    INCRA, yesterday in Port Harcourt, through a member of its Interim Management Team, Godspower Amaefule, declared that Wike’s unconstitutional law would not be allowed to stand.

    It said: “The law enabling the setting up of the Neighbourhood Watch Corps is not only defective, but  inconsistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is the supreme document of the land, and is to the extent of its inconsistency, null and void. It is illegal for the operatives of the Neighbourhood Watch Corps to bear arms or continue to exist.

    “The Nigerian Firearms Act (1990) provides that no person shall have in his possession or under his control, any firearm or ammunition, except such person has a licence from the President or from the Inspector-General of Police. Evidently, the Rivers State Neighbourhood Watch is illegal and cannot stand. The public may wish to know that the Rivers State House of Assembly acted ultra vires in the Neighbourhood Watch Corps bill and this jurisdictional error renders the bill a nullity.

    “We are aware of the machinations and political artifices of Wike and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We have sufficient reasons to believe that the Neighbourhood Watch is not a legal, but a political creation, with a predetermined end to gag, intimidate, maim and kill people who dare to have dissenting views and political interest from the PDP. Never again shall we idly watch criminal elements kill innocent citizens for belonging to a political party opposed to their paymaster. The Neighbourhood Watch cannot guarantee our security or solve the security problems of the state.

    “Presently, submission and collation of names of PDP members and thugs friendly to the PDP for enlistment into the  Neighbourhood Watch Corps is ongoing across the  23 local government areas of the state, in a most clandestine manner, indicative of the fact that only PDP members are drafted into the corps.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Lawmakers criticise Neighbourhood Watch

    Two members of Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday expressed doubt on the neighbourhood Watch Corps ability to fight community crimes.

    Majority leader Sanai Agunbiade from Ikorodu Constituency and Segun Olulade Epe II Constituency whose constituents are being terrorised by the notorious Baddo gang, urged the assembly to move fast to curtail the gang’s “barbaria activities”.

    Agunbiade warned that the lynching of suspects which was becoming a norm in Ikorodu, might lead to people using it as a means of settling personal scores.

    Olulade frowned at the ineffectiveness of the neighbourhood watch, which is supposed to furnish the police with information on the activities of such criminal gangs.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa noted that the corps members were not visible anywhere except at government functions, despite the huge investment on them.

    The assembly raised a ad-hoc committee that would invite officers of the corps to find out their activities and what they are doing about the menace of criminal gangs in the state, especially Badoo.

    It asked the Commissioner of Police to intensify security on the Ikorodu-Epe axis, especially the black spots, and also expose the masterminds.

    The lawmakers sought the establishment of a police command in the Ikorodu-Epe axis and called on the Community Development Associations (CDAs) to give information to the police to aid their work.

  • Community policing will help in reducing crime – Ambode

    Community policing will help in reducing crime – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday said that the fight against crime and all forms of criminality would be better enhanced if efforts are geared towards embracing community policing to complement the police and other law enforcement agencies.

    Governor Ambode, who stated this at the swearing-in ceremony of the Chairman and members of the Board of the State’s Neighbourhood Safety Corp Agency, said community policing was needed to assist law enforcement agencies which, according to him, are already over stretched judging by the enormous task of securing the country.

    Speaking at the ceremony held at Lagos House in Ikeja, Governor Ambode said right from the onset, the major thrust of his administration has always been the security of lives and properties of Lagosians, adding that the Neighborhood Agency, which was an initiative aimed at safe guarding the communities through community policing, was another testimony of the commitment of the State Government to the safety of lives and properties and a demonstration of a promise kept to all citizens.

    The Governor recalled the provision of security at the State level with the massive provision of equipment such as patrol vehicles, motor bikes, boats and helicopter on several occasions to police and other security agencies, saying that such had aided law enforcement outfits in the State in effectively discharging their duties.

    “You will agree with me that the Police and indeed all other security forces within the State and even the country at large are quite stretched, and some form of “community” or “local policing” is required to boost and support the great job the Nigeria Police is presently doing.

    “The creation of this Agency marks another step towards ensuring the protection of lives and properties at the grass root level. Corp members recruited by the Agency are meant to interact with the people at the communities. It is expected that with the visible presence of the Corp members within a particular community, the likelihood of crime will be drastically reduced,” the Governor said.

    He added that the Agency, which replaced the Neighbourhood Watch, has the responsibility of assisting the Police, and its mode of operation will essentially be in intelligence gathering, protection of lives and properties, maintaining law and Order amongst others.

    The Governor also said the Agency has been empowered pursuant to its enabling law, to recruit eligible persons as Corp members in all Local Government Areas of the State.

    He, however, emphasized that the Agency was not meant to compete, but to complement the efforts of the Police Force, adding that the State Government, through the Board, would develop clear policies and strategies for the implementation of the law.

    While reiterating the determination of his administration to commit resources to ensure success of the objectives of the Agency, the Governor said its realization would make Lagos a place where residents and all intending foreign and local investors can do business in safety and comfort.

    He also charged members of the newly inaugurated board to consider their appointments as call to duty, adding that the task making Lagos great and taking it to greater heights was that of all.

    Besides, the Governor commended the foresight, efforts and industry of the Speaker and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for initiating the bill that culminated in the enactment of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency Law 2016, saying their intellectualism in sponsoring the bill and the proactiveness in considering the passage of the law was admirable.

    Members of the Board are Mr. Israel Ajao (Chairman), Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri, SP Yinka Egbeyemi, Mr. Razaq Balogun, Chief Tunde Aboyade, Mr. Ishola Laguda, Mrs Kofoworola Adegboye, Mr. Dengel Anifowoshe, Mrs. Ronke Ogabi, CSP Suleiman Lewi, Mr. O. Eziana and Mr Adegboyega Bajulaiye who will serve as Executive Secretary.

    Responding, Ajao who was a former Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Ogun States and DIG in charge of Criminal Investigation, said he had no doubt as to the passion and commitment of Governor Ambode to safety and security, adding that members of the Agency would hit the ground running towards the set objectives.

    He said considering the complexities of Lagos being home to Nigerians and foreigners from all works of life, the Agency would contribute its quota towards realization of the objectives of making Lagos a safe place for residents and investors.

    The event was graced by the State’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs Idiat OIuranti Adebule; Deputy Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Wasiu Sanni Eshilokun and other principal officers of the House; members of the State Executive Council, party chieftains, among others.