The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Ogun State Chapter, has celebrated 17 of its members with awards, which include meritorious, excellence and friendly personality awards in recognition of their laudable performances.
Penpushing reports that the event, held at Kings Court Event Centre, Itori, in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state, was part of the 2021 Ogun State Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) week, which included a seminar with the theme, “Removing the Bottlenecks in Criminal Prosecution.”
The lead paper was presented by Barrister Mutiu Agboke while Comrade Yinka Folarin was the co-presenter, while some members were also honoured with the Police Officers, Friends of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Area Command, Divisional and State Unit awards, as well as prizes and trophy presented to others.
Penpushing further reports that, Ogun State Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Ven (Dr.) Samson Popoola, in his welcome speech, said the theme was borne out of the fact that crimes have found a festering ground in Nigeria.
“As a result of a very low rate of apprehension and punishment for criminals and this can be attributed to the various bottlenecks and loopholes employed by criminals to evade justice, even where justice is served the offenders come out of our correctional systems more hardened than when they went in’
‘Or how do you justify a petty thief sentenced to few months of prison terms only to come out as a cold hearted armed robber and vicious criminal. Something must be wrong in our correctional systems’, Popoola said.
Penpushing also reports that, the committee boss noted that a system that help condemned criminals for years and accessible to awaiting trials and petty criminals is a potential university of criminal technology.
‘Our Governors must take the bull by the horn and execute orders lying years after years on their tables which have allowed condemned and violent convicts to become Professors behind bars. Our prisons have become a haven for drug peddling, gun running and other illegalities’, he said
‘How do we justify a criminal apprehended and charged by the police at great costs and self denial only to be released by judiciary on technical ground without inquiring into the veracity of the crime committed, this is a potential morale killer to the prosecutors and encouragement for potential criminals’
Penpushing reports that, Popoola speaking on the side of human rights activists, said focus has been more on fighting for the right of the accused criminals, while neglecting the psychological trauma inflicted on the victims
‘A rapists and criminal rights are been protected at the expense of the traumatized victims..there must be a balance. A man who willfully take the life of another, denying him his own right to life, cannot claim a right to his own life. We must also learn to fight for the victims as much as we protect the rights of the suspected criminals’, he posited
The Chairman on the activities of the committee said it has successfully repositioned the association in the last 18 months, picking it up from ashes and ruins to the number one position in the country
‘We have streamlined membership recruitment and quality of membership, we have re-oriented our old members to be more proactive in the discharge of their duties, we have put in place a functional state office and a mini conference hall, ou board of patrons is a beauty in terms of calibers of men and women inducted and those waiting to be inducted’
‘Our voice are ringing louder in the 10 area command and 68 divisions and close to 200 units in the state. We were involved in keeping our state safe during the Covid-19 lockdown, Endsars saga and students and union unrests, nipping many of them in the bud.
Penpushing reports that, Popoola traced the committee success story to the support government and police hierarchy in the zones and state, stressing that their support has given the body needed tonic and strength to soar higher.
The Chairman, however, appealed to the Ogun State Government to do more in terms of logistics support and grants since the committee is self funded, stressing that the task is enormous and very daunting.
Penpushing also reports that, the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun in his remarks affirmed that the Ogun State has been adjudged the best peaceful state in the country, adding that this was achievable with the proactive support of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) .
The police boss said the command under his leadership will continue to provide conducive atmosphere for residents, just as he appealed to the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) on continued its collaboration with the police in fighting crimes and criminality
‘Ogun state has been adjudged most peaceful state in Nigeria, following support of PCRC, and PCRC is a rally point of peace. The command under my leadership will continued to provide conducive atmosphere for residents’, Ajogun said
‘I appeal to PCRC to continue to collaborate, assist and support police. There is still more to do. I also want to commend our traditional rulers for the support to the police, particularly during the Endsars protest, as well as the Human Rights Organisations’, he added
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