From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The General Overseer of Community Church based in Bayelsa , Rev Vincent Durugbo has allegedly accused the Imo state police of command of aiding and abetting criminality in the state through their desperation for money .
The cleric who spoke to newsmen in Owerri, the Imo state capital, regretted that so many innocent people have fallen victim of the unprofessional attitude of the police who only listen-to-the-highest-bidder practices , saying that he has been severally been manhandled by the police.
Narrating his several encounters with the police, he said, “I have severally complained about Umuakah police not doing their job excellently well. If they are doing well in combating crimes, our community would not be the den of kidnappers, armed robbers, criminals and what have you. Yet we have a Divisional Police Headquarters situated in the community.
“I have personally reported several cases to Umuakah Divisional Police Headquarters, cases of urgent importance which ought to be given due and immediate attention but the police would always tell me one story or the other, probably because I am against inducing them with bribe.
“In Umuakah today, no one is safe . Last week, when I was burying my brother, thugs came from nowhere and disrupted the burial ceremony and threatened to kill me. Last December, I was robbed at Umuakah junction and lost so many of my valuables including millions of naira to my attackers.
“About three months ago or so, four kids were taken away by suspected child traffickers in Amako Njaba and till today, the kids are still missing. So many wrong things going on in my community that have not received any attention.
“I have been attacked several times but it was God that has been saving my life. My grouse is that the police is no longer friendly with the civilians who still believe they can sort (bribe) them (police). I have written to the CP on a number of times but none was given attention.”
The ex-Nigeria soldier further advocated for a more robust police-civilian relationship where the common man can also get justice without having to bribe the police before their complaints are treated .
He called on the state Commissioner of Police for a change of attitude in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities in order to curtail the spate of kidnapping, armed robbery, child-trafficking and other heinous activities in the state especially in his community of Umuaksh in Njaba council area of Imo state.