Activist Agberen Blames Police Extortion, Brutality On FG’s Lackadaisical Attitude To Their Welfare

By Oguns Sammy (Warri)

The Vice Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights ( CDHR), Delta State branch, Comrade Amb Agberen Derrick Oritsematosan, has said the federal government’s lackadaisical attitude to the welfare of police officers is a major cause of police brutality and extortion across the federation.

Comrade Amb Agberen stated this today (Thursday) in a chat with newsmen in Warri.

He said research has shown that unfair treatment in terms of welfare packages to the police while in service and after service has made them vent their anger on ordinary people in the country.

He said the Nigeria policemen who swore to protect the citizens now goes against them because of the ordeal they pass through in this regard.

He said: “You can’t buttress the issue of bad governance in Nigeria without talking about the frustration of Nigeria policemen on the people…the unfair treatment given to the Nigeria Police has gradually turned them against the people’s lives and property they have sworn to protect and that is why extortion and brutality among police officers are rampant in the country.”

According to Comrade (Amb) Agberen, the Nigeria police are frontline security agents in the country and therefore deserve better treatment during and after their service years.

He added: “Police officers ought to be well planned and cared for during and after their service years.”

He said the failure of the federal government to recognize these facts has made the average police officer do anything possible during his time of service to acquire money and property illegally (corrupt) practices.

Speaking further, Comrade Amb Agberen said it becomes difficult to entrust police officers with fire arms and expect a peaceful society when they are not well taken care of.

According to him, it is appalling that many of the retired police officers cannot feed well, pay their children’s school fees, therefore, making many of their children to drop out of school.

Continuing, he said they cannot seek medical attention when they are sick among others, adding that this is after serving their father land for thirty-five years.

The Human Rights Activist therefore appealed to the federal government to take proper care of Nigeria Police welfare, saying if they are to carry out their legitimate duty diligently, to reduce crimes in the society, it should consider and implement the demands which came as a result of #EndSars protest, organise welfare plan and improve on the lives of police officers during and after service, increase and make their salary attractive, exempt them from contributory scheme among others.

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He said: “Police officers are humans and be treated fairly and to achieve this, the federal government can change their(Police) narratives by increasing their pay packages and other incentives to make life worth living.”

The activist believes that if all these are done, policing would be more meaningful and professional.

The Human Rights Activist also used the medium to thank the Nigeria Police Force for not giving up on their fight against crimes in the society despite the unpleasant situations they pass through while carrying out their legitimate duties just as he appealed to them not to vent their anger on the citizens but treat them with love and care.

Agberen said activists would continue to agitate for better treatment for them to enable them carry out their work effectively.

“l use this medium to thank the Nigeria Police Force for a job well done in fighting crimes in the society,” he said, while urging them to keep the flag flying.