Foundation Takes Police Reform Sensitization Workshop To Abia Youths

January 31, 2022

In an effort to entrench a more civil policing system, a civil society organisation, NOPRIN Foundation has concluded a 2-day workshop in Umuahia Abia State capital which seeks to end police brutality and other crude forms of policing to build a friendly environment between the police and entire populace.

The workshop which was held in collaboration with Ministry of Youths Abia State was tagged, “Strengthening Police Reform in Abia (South-East) Nigeria”.

The group while maintaining that youth inclusion in Police Reforms in necessary added that the #EndSARS protest of 2020 was a demand for immediate reform of the police force to build a harmonious relationship as well as pressuring the government to commence implementation of the police reform act for better policing in the country.

Speaking at the event which took place at the weekend, Chairperson of NOPRIN Mr Savior Apan noted that there is need to end the persistent hatred between the police and youths of the country.

He said, “The #Endsars protest was only a demand from the civil populace on the police to end brutal policing and not a motif for persistent hatred between the police and the youths in Nigeria.”

The guest speakers that gave various presentations on the summit were academic security experts such as Dr. C. Jasper Uche who gave insight on “Devising practical solution towards improved youths-police relationship for accountable service delivery in Nigeria perspective from the context of the South-East region”.

Mr. Nnamdi Ekekwachib of SERSJ, also practically handled the topic: “Youths and police Reforms in Nigeria; Strategies for building trust and confidence post Endsars era in Nigeria” while Dr Freedom C. Onuoha, a lecturer also explained and elaborated on the topic ; “Insecurity in the South-East and the effect of unknown gunmen in youth and police partnership in crime detection, Human Rights protection and violent conflict prevention; The way out.

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In the Speech of the Abia state Police Public Relation Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, who was introduced to be the longest serving PPRO in Abia state, affirmed a good working relationship with journalist in Abia State and also cited that security is everyone’s business and expressed excitement for been invited by NOPRIN.

The Enugu State Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, Daniel Ndukwe Ekea his speech emphasized and noted that the Nigeria police force is an organized regiment with sound discipline. He used himself as a model who left the banking sector to join the Nigerian police.

PPRO Ndukwe also emphasized on the need for youths to continue to see police as their friend who they can partner with for a better nation.

Part of the objectives of the summit is to advocate for the implementation of post police Reforms by the government and the police as an institution, Enhance police accountability on human right abuses through capacity building of the police and oversight agencies, improved transparency of the police Trust Fund through awareness and monitoring of police Trust Fund activities across the six geopolitical zones, To provide empirical data on policing strategies and police handling of gender based violence case in Nigeria.

The National coordinator of NOPRIN, Ikule Emmanuel thanked all participants for finding time to join the summit and hoped to see practical input of the outcome of the summit in the society.

Comrade Nelson Nnana Nwafor, DG FENRAD who spoke to our news men after the summit thanked the organizers and expressed delight that the South East chapter of the summit was done in Abia.

He reiterated that the summit came at the right time and it’s engagement will help change the narrative of police in engaging with the youth and also ensure peaceful co-existence.

The summit also had the presence of Barr. Charles Esonu, Abia State commissioner Ministry of Youth Development.