Police warn against attack on officers performing lawful duties in C’Rivers

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The Police Public Relations Officer, Cross River State Command, Sunday Eitokpah, has called on Nigerians to respect law enforcement officers and stop assaulting policemen carrying out their lawful duties.

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Speaking to The PUNCH on Thursday in Calabar, the state capital, the command’s spokesperson said that while the police uniform is a symbol of public authority, there are human beings behind every badge who risk their lives daily to respond to emergencies, prevent crime and maintain public order.

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He expressed concern over increasing cases of assault, obstruction and violent resistance against officers on duty, warning that such acts undermine not just the officer but the authority of the state.

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Eitokpah said, “Every day, police officers leave their homes to respond to emergencies, prevent crime, protect lives and property, maintain public order and enforce the law. Yet, increasingly, there are disturbing instances in which officers are assaulted, obstructed or violently resisted while carrying out their duties.”

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He reminded the public that Section 98 of the Police Act 2020 provides that any person who assaults, obstructs or resists a police officer in the discharge of his duty commits an offence punishable by a fine of N500,000, imprisonment for six months, or both.

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He, however, noted that respect for the police must not be confused with immunity from accountability.

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Eitokpah urged citizens to report misconduct, seek legal redress if an arrest is believed to be unlawful, and pursue genuine complaints through appropriate channels rather than resorting to violence.

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“Where a police officer is alleged to have acted unlawfully, abused his powers or violated the rights of a citizen, the appropriate response is to report the matter and pursue lawful redress through appropriate channels such as the National Human Rights Commission.

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He stressed that neither any citizen nor police officer is above the law, calling for a balance where citizens understand that disagreement with an officer does not justify violence, while officers must act professionally and with respect for human dignity.

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“We must, therefore, resist two dangerous extremes: the idea that every police action should be accepted without question, and the equally dangerous idea that frustration with the police justifies attacking officers. Neither serves justice,” he added.

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He also charged police officers to see every encounter with citizens as an opportunity to strengthen public confidence, noting that the uniform demands discipline and the badge demands responsibility.

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“Ultimately, the protection of police officers and the protection of citizens are not opposing causes. They are part of the same objective: a society governed by law rather than force,” he added.

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