The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PCRC

  • PCRC sets up conference committees

    The Lagos State chapter of the Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC) has constituted a five-man committee to ensure a hitch-free 2019 conference.

    The Conference Committee members are:  Mr Akibu Bankole – Chairman, Mr Jude Udoh, First Vice-Chairman, Alhaja Nurat Adebayo, Second Vice-Chairman, Rev. Francis Osibowale – Secretary and Chief B.R.O, Balogun – Coordinator.

    Speaking after the inauguration yesterday, the state Chairman of PCRC, Apostle Kehinde Showemimo, advised members of the committee to ensure that adequate preparations were made for the biennial event.

    Bankole, while thanking PCRC for the confidence reposed in his team for this year’s conference, said he will make sure the event is remembered.

    “I thank members of the PCRC, who consider us fit to handle this year’s event. I promise that we shall do our best to ensure this year’s conference is the best ever organised,” he said.

    Bankole urged members to work with one mind to achieve the result.

    Other committees inaugurated are Electoral, Strategic Planning and Publicity and Contact/Fund Raising. They will be chaired by Alhaji Suleiman Ogidi, Apostle Showemimo, Chief Uzor Philip, Alhaji Raufu Ajibade and T. A. Idowu.

  • SARS has reduced cases of kidnapping, robbery in C/River- PCRC

    SARS has reduced cases of kidnapping, robbery in C/River- PCRC

    Members of the Police Community Relations Committee ( PCRC ) in Cross River State, on Wednesday held a peaceful rally in support of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS ) of the Nigerian Police Force, saying the unit has helped in reducing kidnapping and robberies in the state.

    Carrying placards with various inscriptions, they marched through streets in the capital city to express their message.

    Chairman of PCRC in the state, Mr Michael Edem, said SARS has reduced cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in the state and it was wrong to clamour for its scrapping.

    “What we are doing here today is to sensitise the public against the call to scrap SARS. SARS has always responded timely to emergency calls.

    “We are appealing to the government not to scrap SARS because their role in curbing cases of kidnapping and armed robbery nationwide is commendable.

    “No security agency in Nigeria today is 100 per cent perfect, and at such we must bear with them on their shortcomings’’, he said.

    The Chairman called for adequate funding of the police, saying that it would go a long way in helping the force to carry out its constitutional duties creditably.

    Another member of the committee, Mr Charles Edet, a trader, said it was inappropriate to end SARS.

    He rather urged the police authority to train and re-train members of the squad to always obey human rights in their activities.

    “What I will rather prefer is a complete restructuring of the squad because even armed robbers and kidnapping are always afraid of SARS’’, he said.

  • PCRC plans construction of multi-purpose secretariat in Enugu

    PCRC plans construction of multi-purpose secretariat in Enugu

    The Police Community Relations Committee ( PCRC ) of the Enugu State Police Command has concluded arrangement to build a multi-purpose secretariat to enhance police-public relationship in the state.

    The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Enugu.

    Amaraizu said that the foundation-laying ceremony would be performed by the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Mohammed Danmallam on Wednesday.

    He said the foundation-laying ceremony for the proposed multi-purpose secretariat would be held at the command’s headquarters, Enugu.

    Read also: Enugu police pledge partnership with public

    The spokesman said: “the ultra modern multi-purpose secretariat when completed will have a modern conference hall equipped with relevant tools for media briefings.

    “The secretariat will also have offices for regular meetings and interface with relevant stakeholders as well as an office for members of the PCRC.

    “The project is being undertaken by the PCRC of Enugu State Police Command in partnership with the command.’’

    NAN

  • Neighbourhood policing: PCRC chieftain advises IGP

    The Inspector–General of Police (IGP) Mr. Ibrahim Idris has been urged to look into the positive and negative implications of the proposed neighbourhood policing by some state governments.

    In a letter to the Deputy Inspector of Police, Mr. Josak Habila, the chairman of Zone Two Command PCRC, Archbishop George Amu said such a security organization for community policing would have great negative effect and compound security situation in the country.

    Archbishop Amu who is the vice chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),              17 southern states chapter, pointed out that the proponents of neighbourhood policing might mean well, but at the end of the day, it would be abused by politicians against their opponents or to score political points. Archbishop Amu marked is 76th birthday recently

    Amu, who was the chairman of PCRC, Area ‘F’ Police command when Mr. Habila was the Area Commander, said the proposed neighbourhood policing would have four negative problems: it will serve as a parallel body to the current General Police Force; the funding will lead to massive fraud, whereas the police force is not well funded, so we will not like this to tarnish the image of the IGP.

    He explained that neighbourhood policing would be used negatively by the politicians. He recalled that since the Police established the PCRC 25 years ago it has been helping the police force in the area of welfare and intelligence gathering without failure, while the body is non ethnical, non religious , non-political and fully independent, and has been functioning without government funding for the past 25  years and liaising with the Area Commands.

  • Controversy trails PCRC chairman’s death in Rivers

    Controversy trails PCRC chairman’s death in Rivers

    Controversy has trailed the death of Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Zone VI, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Benjamin Jeremiah.

    Jeremiah was found dead on April 19, at his office in the Ministry of Youth Development, Block C, Room 722, State Secretariat complex, Port Harcourt.

    The deceased, a Jewish faithful, was seen with blood and an unfinished plate of food beside him.

    The Nation gathered that one of the deceased office assistants had opened his door only to find his lifeless body.

    The ministry was alleged to have cleaned the blood stains and removed possible exhibits before inviting the police to the scene.

    Although sources at the ministry claimed Jeremiah left his office on Wednesday (April 18) and resumed work on Thursday, his relatives stated otherwise.

    A family member, who spoke with The Nation, said Jeremiah’s widow insisted the deceased told them he would not come home that Wednesday.

    The source alleged that violent marks were also seen on his body, suggesting that he might have been strangled.

    The family member said the deceased always briefed his wife on his movement, adding that the family was ready to get to the root of the matter.

    Spokesman for the PCRC in the zone, Dr. Mine Ogbanga, said the group was also curious about Jeremiah’s death.

    Ogbanga, who confirmed an emergency meeting was held, said they resolved to invite external pathologists for independent autopsy to be conducted on the deceased.

    He said: “The PCRC National Chairman, Dr. Faruk Maiyama, feels strongly about the death of the zonal chairman in his office. He has given certain directives, which are being adhered to by national officers from the zone.

    “It was resolved that we all work together to ensure a successful burial process. Burial and security committees were set up. It was decided that an external pathologist be involved for independent autopsy report. He left behind his wife and seven children.”

  • Eschew violence, PCRC urges electorate

    The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Meiran community, Agbado / Oke-Odo Local Council Development LCDA, Lagos State, has urged voters to shun violence in order to ensure a free and fair election.

    The advice came on the heels of a sensitization rally staged by the group aimed at creating awareness on the dangers of electoral violence in the country.

    The rally, which took PCRC members to every nook and cranny of Agbado / Oke – Odo LCDA, commenced and terminated at the Meiran Police Division.

    Speaking during the occasion, Chairman PCRC, Meiran Police Division, Prince Adebisi Osideinde, called on the electorate to participate fully and peacefully in the March 28 and April 11 general elections, to ensure they get the leadership they desire.

    Osidehinde said the campaign with the theme, “Security Awareness for peaceful Elections” was organized at urging Nigerians to eschew ethnicity, tribalism and nepotism in the choice of who governs them. He called on electorate and politicians to draw inspirations from the national anthem of the country, to arise and serve diligently and faithfully.

    He said: “This election is for and by Nigerian people and it must be free, fair and held in such a way that it will deepen the nation’s democracy such that at the end of the electoral process, Nigeria must be the winner. We call on Agbado / Oke – Odo LCDA residents to eschew every form of violence. The prevalent do-or die attitude is unnecessary, unhelpful and unhealthy for our system of democracy. We must all say “no” to violence before, during and after the elections”.

  • PCRC boss backs polls shift

    The National Organising Secretary of the Police Community Relations Committee Nigeria, Austen Yong, has taken a swipe at those calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to sign an undertaking that the 2015 elections will not be postponed again and his tenure elongated.

     Yong, who spoke to reporters in Lagos, said: “Was it the President who shifted the elections? Did the National Council of State not ask the INEC chairman to make further consultations with Nigerians on the feasibility of conducting the election?

    “The polls shift was the best for Nigeria because it saved INEC from monumental embarrassment, evidently, it was not prepared.

    “Security is a collective responsibility. The Army and security agencies did not create Boko Haram and the insurgency cannot stop without the people’s cooperation; if based on security report the poll was shifted you do not turn round to blame security agencies.”

  • Rivers CP dissolves PCRC

    Rivers CP dissolves PCRC

    Rivers State Commissioner of Police Tunde Ogunsakin has ordered the dissolution of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC).

    Ogunsakin made the declaration yesterday in a statement by police spokesman Ms Grace Iringe–Koko.

    The statement said the lingering crisis in the PCRC was due to allegations of mismanagement, embezzlement, and maladministration and tenure elongation.

    It reads: “In view of this, the commissioner has ordered the immediate dissolution of the PCRC executive. A care-taker committee will be constituted to oversee the affairs of the PCRC and prepare ground for election and the inauguration of substantive executive.”

  • Crimes reduced in Kwara, say police

    Police in Kwara State yesterday said the number of criminal cases committed last year was 666, compared to 803 in 2012.

    In a statement, Commissioner of Police Agboola Oshodi-Glover said crimes reduced by about 17 per cent in the preceding year.

    Oshodi-Glover noted that culpable homicide cases increased from 30 in 2012 to 61 last year, while robbery decreased from 15 to nine.

    Oshodi-Glover said: “In the period under review, the command witnessed some cases of robbery, car theft, culpable homicide, house/shop breaking, chieftaincy and land disputes as well as civil disturbance.

    “The command recorded a reduction in crime due to the creation of nipping points within the command and reinvigoration of PCRC.”