The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, said having roadblocks on our roads cannot effectively checkmate internal security in the country. The IGP stated this, Thursday, in Jos the Plateau State Capital, while in audience with religious and community leaders in the State.

Arase said, “We have been able to roll out some policy trust since i came on board. There are some arrears where we come in conflict with members of the public, especially the roadblock. To me no matter how we look at it, the roadblocks cannot be a panacea for effective internal security management.”

“Apart from the nuisance it creates, they are also points of corruption, incivilities to members of public and these are the things that make the public perception.”

The Police Chief stressed that, “This is where the poor public perception of the police is developed. We have good Officers and men in the police force, but may be the way we do our business, sometimes they infringe on the rights and privileges of Nigerians.

“I keep telling my Officers, you cannot police any society if you are not civil to the people that you are dealing with, if you don’t respect their rights, the people will start hating you, and if they start hating you, the information you are looking for cannot come.”

He advised Officers to treat the citizenry with respect and decorum in the performance of their duty.

“Despite the fact that we are removing roadblocks, there are occasions where we have credible intelligence or where there is a threat or alert, where occasionally we can through intelligence ensure that we are able to do stop and search.

“I want to appeal to our brothers and sisters, if you have a dispute with somebody and the dispute is civil, please when you are asking the police to intervene, ensure that you don’t criminalize such complains, he appealed.

“By and large the whole thing is a symbiotic relationship between us and members of the public. You are to assist us to do our job better and with your assistance we should be able to perform effectively and efficiently in making sure that we give you a secured environment to carry out your business.

“On my part, under my watch, I will not allow any police man to infringe on the right of any Nigerian. I have said it over and over again, that no Nigerian will suffer any injustice by my action or inaction and I still stand by it.”

“This why I’m coming to Plateau to come and appeal to you people, please use your platforms both in the Mosque and Churches, talk to your people let them assist the police force, we cannot continue like this.”

“We must stop these issues of hatred and killings that are going on here and there. We must be able to trust ourselves and respect our rights. Where your right stops, that is where the other man’s own begins.”

“The police cannot police a State with the cooperation of the community and that is why we talk about community partnership and policing.

He said, in Plateau State there are about 6, 000 policemen, but added that they alone cannot police the State, “And that is why I’m here to appeal to you people passionately that without you we will not be able to do our job effectively.

“No matter what wrong we have done in the past, we are determined to make amends, as human, we must have made some mistakes, we may have abuse some of your rights, but I as the IGP am prepared to sort out your short comings and tell all of you who are present here, we are sorry”.

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Roadblocks are not effective in managing internal security- IGP Arase