PCRC Disassociates Self From Planned Protest Against Police Brutality In Imo

The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Imo State has distanced itself from a planned protest against police brutality, violence, and extortion in the state.

Mr. Bathram Uzodimma, the committee’s Chairman, made this known while speaking to newsmen in Owerri, the state capital, on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that residents from Ahiazu, Aboh, and Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Governments had planned a mass protest against police brutality and extortion along the Owerri-Umuahia highway, a major route to Mbaise.

The protest, scheduled for August 7, 2025, is being organised by Mr. Wisdom Anyanwu, a concerned citizen.

While acknowledging the high level of police brutality reported in the Mbaise area, Uzodimma said the committee had taken decisive measures to tackle the problem.

He revealed that the PCRC leadership had met with heads of security agencies, including the Army and police, who assured that the menace would be addressed promptly.

“We must tread with caution, and this is why we are against the protest and have asked Mbaise people not to honour it,” he said.

“We call on the convener, Mr Wisdom Anyanwu, to call off the protest and allow set mechanisms for addressing the issues.”

Uzodimma also assured residents that under his watch, no citizen would be subjected to humiliation by the police.

He extended condolences to the families of victims of a recent gunmen attack in Ideato North and stressed that security agencies remain committed to ending such violence.

Speaking as well, the immediate past Chairman of the PCRC, Mr. Chima Chukwunyere, condemned police actions along the Owerri-Umuahia Road, where youths have been brutalised and extorted.

However, he reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to fostering a cordial relationship between the police and the public.

He urged residents to abandon the planned protest, warning that it “could easily be hijacked,” noting that the organisers had not established sufficient contact with relevant authorities.