NOA Director Calls for Rigorous Scrutiny of Police Recruits

From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba

Abia State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Ngozi Okechukwu, says that rigorous scrutiny of police recruits, to allow critical assessment of attitude, motivation, and psychological makeup, will expose the real character of such persons to fit into acceptable requirements.
She also urged the authorities, to train their men on violence reduction and management, as well as adoption of standards in use of force, while on duty.
Mrs Okechukwu was speaking during a media briefing organized in Aba, by a non governmental organization, Youths and Students Advocacy for Development Initiative (YSAD).
She said that the present situation in which the people see the police, as enemies instead of security providers, was among the problems working against societal peace and good neighborliness.
The NOA Director, called for the enactment of a law empowering civil society groups involved in human rights advocacy, to monitor and demand accountability from the nation’s law enforcement agencies on issues related to public wellbeing.
She further recommended punishment against interference in and coverup for police misconduct, noting that such will restore public confidence in men of the force in handling their matters.
Chief Executive Officer, of YSAD, Obinna Nwagbara, had in an opening remark, called on the Inspector of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to work towards the total dismantling of illegal roadblocks on motor roads in the Southeast.
Nwagbara, also urged the police hierarchy, to do more than just issuing order, rather to ensure that it’s men on locations work according to the rules while advising motorists to always drive with updated documents and licenses in order to avoid being lured into offering bribes when caught.