…PCRC Chairman, Dr Rufus Ebegba, urges community policing, youth restraint from electoral violence and responsible campaigns across FCT
By Danjuma Amodu
The Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, FCT Command, has directed its structures to intensify security intelligence activities ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The PCRC FCT Command Chairman, Dr Rufus Ebegba, gave the directive in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
He appealed to Area Command Chairpersons, Divisional Chairpersons and Special Units Coordinators to strengthen community policing and collaboration with security agencies.
Ebegba urged PCRC structures and community members to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, activities, movements and gatherings to the nearest police formation or appropriate security agency.
He cautioned members of the public against confronting suspected threats themselves, stressing the need to allow security agencies to investigate and respond appropriately to reported incidents.
The PCRC FCT Command Chairman also directed Area Commands, Divisions and Special Units to organise Town Hall Meetings focused on peaceful participation during political campaigns and the forthcoming general elections.
He said the meetings would promote dialogue, tolerance, responsible citizenship and respect for political differences among youths, political actors, traditional and religious leaders, women and civil society organisations.
Ebegba made a special appeal to Nigerian youths not to allow themselves to be recruited or manipulated into electoral violence, political thuggery, intimidation or destruction of property.
He urged youths to embrace peaceful political participation, saying their involvement in democratic processes should contribute to community development rather than undermine peace and security during elections.
“Political participation is a right, but it also carries responsibility. Our young people must become agents of peace, not instruments of violence,” Ebegba said.
He also called on political parties, candidates and supporters to conduct their campaigns peacefully and responsibly while rejecting hate speech, inflammatory rhetoric, intimidation and violence.
Ebegba said security was a shared responsibility and directed PCRC structures to implement the security-intelligence and Town Hall Meeting initiatives in collaboration with police and other security agencies.
