The police in Enugu State have announced plans to launch a new police unit to fight growing kidnappings, armed robbery attacks and other forms of violent crimes in the state.
The police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Friday that the launch of the new police unit, the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), followed a directive by the Inspector-General (IGP) of Police, Olatunji Disu.
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Mr Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, said the initiative was part of sustained efforts by police authorities to strengthen the fight against violent crimes across the state.
“The VCRU, a brainchild of the IGP, has, among other responsibilities, the core mandate of investigating, responding to, and suppressing violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, and other related offences through strictly intelligence-driven operations,” he said.
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“The unit is also expected to operate at all times in full compliance with constitutional provisions, the Nigeria Police Act 2020, and applicable international human rights standards, while remaining accountable and serving as a bridge of trust between the Nigeria Police Force and the public,” the police spokesperson added.
PREMIUM TIMES understands that the unit will be launched across all police facilities in Nigeria.
‘Setting up Enugu’s VCRU’
Mr Ndukwe said police authorities in Enugu State have designated the former Crack Tactical Base at Golf Estate in Enugu as the operational base for the new police unit in the state.
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“CSP Henry Imo has been appointed as the unit commander, while ASP Godwin Ebuka Ebenezer has been appointed as the unit’s state media liaison officer,” he said.
The spokesperson stated that, in line with the IGP’s directive, police operatives earmarked for the new unit have undergone “intensive training” in human rights, as well as social and emotional intelligence, to enhance professionalism and guide their relationships with Nigerians.
He said a dedicated Complaint Response Desk has also been established for the unit, with a mobile phone number, 08039382015, designated for Nigerians to report complaints against personnel of the unit.
Mr Ndukwe said the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Bitrus Giwa, charged operatives deployed to the VCRU to remain guided by their core mandates and clearly defined standard operating procedures ahead of the unit’s formal unveiling by the IGP.
Mr Giwa reassured residents of Enugu State that the police in the state are committed to tackling violent crimes.
The commissioner appealed to residents to continue supporting and cooperating with the police and other security agencies to stamp out criminality in the state.
Increased kidnap attacks
There have been frequent attacks by kidnappers across Nigeria.
Civil servants, business owners, politicians, and even students have become targets of such attacks lately.
In Nigeria, kidnapping is a criminal offence.
The country enacted the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2022), which outlawed all forms of kidnapping.
READ ALSO: Police bust armed robbery syndicate, recover stolen vehicles in Kaduna
The Act prescribes a death sentence for kidnapping in cases where the abduction leads to loss of life and life imprisonment where there is no loss of life.
It was an amendment to the now-defunct Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2013), which had prescribed a 10-year jail term for kidnapping.
The new Act also prescribes at least a 15-year jail term for whoever pays ransom to free kidnap victims.
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