A civil society group, Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development, FENRAD has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu to reconsider plans to relocate the Police Area Command situated in Ohafia local government area of Abia state to Arochukwu, saying it is counter peace and counterproductive.
In a letter jointly signed by the Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, and Head Legal Team, Barr. Olusegun Bamgbose, Dated April 30, 2020, and addressed to the IGP obtained by ABN TV, the group expressed regret over the destruction of Police facility in the community as well as other public properties as a result of the killing of Friday Arunsi, a native of Ebem Ohafia by a team of policemen recently.
“FENRAD wishes to kindly remind the Inspector General of Nigeria Police Force, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar Adamu (mni), that while the ugly incident of Friday, 17 April, 2020 involving off duty policemen and Mr. Friday Ifeanyi Arunsi resulting in the untimely death of the latter is regrettably lamentable, it is hopeful that constructive approach is adopted in (re)building blocks of peace, especially, with regards to civil-police relations than taking measures which may not guarantee a win-win outcome to both parties in the end.
“FENRAD condemns the ruckus and riot which followed the death of Mr. Arunsi resulting in destruction of properties and chattels of not just the Nigeria Police Force but the Nigerian government as well and therefore wishes to apprise the IG that from available information, the said perpetrators of the incendiary attacks on chattels and facilities of the police and government were not the indigenes of Ebem Ohafia, the administrative head of Ohafia LGA, Abia State. In the words of the new Commissioner of Police Mrs. Janet Agbede, after assessing the damage done, the callous perpetrators were “not even the bereaved”. Obviously, the activities of these opportunistic elements are condemnable in all senses. The traditional leaders and leaders of thought of Ebem Ohafia have equally stated that the rioters are not sons and daughters of Ebem, a community which hitherto had hosted the Police Area Command years before Friday, April 17, 2020, happened. The activities of these elements may well liken to the proverbial outsiders weeping louder than the bereaved!
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“FENRAD understands that there is a rumoured arrangement which purports that the IG has ordered the removal and relocation of force Area Command from its Ebem Ohafia base to Arochukwu, as allegedly proposed. This, if true, cannot and does not guarantee a workable peace to either the dead and the mourning nor the police. Before now there has been peaceful coexistence between the police and natives and so this development calls for thorough investigation. Any attempt to remove force Area Command from its Ohafia location likens to forcefully separating a couple whose marriage, naturally, has not ended.
“FENRAD urges the IG to use his good offices, as he has already begun, in ensuring a lasting framework of peace and return to status quo ante. Ebem Ohafia is not notorious for crime and wanton destruction of properties and public peace disruption. Aside the police station resident therein, the 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army is also quartered in Ohafia. Never had violence erupted between the host community and soldiers, so police can never be a difference.
“FENRAD wants a win-win solution to all this as facilitated by dialogue and not a separation between parties. Separation – that is in the likely case of the removal of Force Area Command from Ebem – will put paid to sustainable peace the state command and Force have put in place along the line of peace buildup. As a stopgap arrangement and in the interim, Ebem community has proposed to quarter the men and officers of the Area Command while reconstruction goes on at the damaged and torched station. This is done with a view to assuring the police and public that Ebem Ohafia is for peace.
“In the light of this development, removing the Area Command from Ebem Ohafia does not guarantee the security and well-being of her sons and daughters. Conflict resolution mechanism must be explored to the letter. The best option, FENRAD believes, lies carrying on with investigations to see that justice is done and peace won. Taking the Area Command to another proposed area would throw spanner in the works as investigations are still ongoing and may even compare to desertion of duty on the part of the Force. There is no war existing between Ebem and the Police both of which have known peace and camaraderie existing together as no land exists without citizens and settlers.
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“Let whatever is left be done and achieved through opening doors of negotiation than withdrawal. Talk is better than divorce. Confidence and peacebuilding in tandem with rebuilding of the torched and destroyed properties are the only things to build, and as well, can only guarantee peace; a win-win for all, both community and police” the group stated.
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