Police boss urges traditional rulers to report crime

Mr Hafiz Inuwa, the Commissioner of Police in Cross River has called on the traditional rulers in the state to report all cases of crime in their communities to the police.

Inuwa made the call on Thursday in Calabar at the end of the one-week celebration and inauguration of the Police Community and Relations Committee (PCRC), Cross River chapter.

Our correspondent reports that the theme of the celebration is ‘The Role of PCRC in Crime Prevention and Control’.

According to Inuwa, the call becomes necessary because the traditional rulers are the closest to the people, adding that the police cannot fight crime alone without the support of members of the public.

He said that since the traditional rulers were the custodians of the people and their culture, it was important for them to report all cases of criminality in their communities to the police.

“The PCRC has been an integral part of the police for many years now; this has helped in maintaining peace and order in the society.

“There is no society that exists without crime, but I must say that the crime rate in Cross River is relatively low.

“I am happy that our traditional rulers are part of the PCRC. I want to charge them to report all cases of criminality in their communities.

“If traditional rulers can effectively collaborate with the police in the area of information gathering and sharing, I think we will achieve maximum result in policing the state accordingly, ‘he said.

Mr Mike Effiom, Chairman of PCRC in the state said that the committee, established in 1984, was an arm of the police force meant to foster community based policing.

Effiom said that the duties of members of the PCRC were focused toward promoting the concept of community policing and enhancing public relations between the police and members of the public.

“The PCRC does not only promote community based policing; we also protect lives and property, educate, inform and partner with well-meaning persons or groups to checkmate criminality in the state.

“We will continue to mobilise and enlighten our members to be proactive in policing our various communities across the state, “he said.

It was reported that high point of the celebration was the award of excellence on crime prevention and management to Inuwa byPCRC.