Worried by the continued intimidation of innocent citizens by some security agencies, chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Imo State, Chima Chukwunyere, has called on the leadership of National Unions of Roads Transport Workers (NURTW), Imo State chapter, and other transport unions in the State, to rise against the anomaly.
In a letter captioned: “The Continuous Defiling of Ethics of The Profession”, dated September 6, 2024, made available to journalists in Owerri on Friday, and copied to Imo State Commissioner of Police, Director DSS and the Commander 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, the PCRC chairman advised the chairman of the NURTW, Imo State chapter and all motorist to resist the action of some of the security agencies against extortion of innocent youths.
He said: “I wish to draw the attention of your office and other transport unions in the state to the continuous defilement of the ethics of their profession by the security agencies in the State.”
Chukwunyere reminded the union about the recent warnings by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to security agencies in the country against intimidation of fellow citizens by way of collecting and having access to their mobile phones.
He said the government perceives these actions as illegal and a daylight robbery using Federal government uniforms.
“This act is not peculiar to the police, other security agencies such as the Joint Team of Security Force are also culprits.”
The PCRC chairman disclosed that his attention as the chairman of the Imo Hoteliers Association was drawn recently by the complaints of their guests about the treatment meted out to them by security agencies in the State.
“Some of them even forcefully paid between N200,000 to N300,000 in order not to be tagged either IPOB, ESN members of 419 or Yahoo plus,” he added.
PCRC vehemently condemned the way and idea of security agencies on patrol and roadblocks forcing the youths to come down from vehicles and asking drivers to leave with their vehicles in order for them to extort them.
Chukwunyere insisted that in the case of a driver observing this criminal action, such a driver should stop immediately and resist the security agencies and call the Police Emergency Security Numbers: 08034773600, or call PPRO 08148024755.
