NBA to Police: You Should Be Concerned If Court Restrains Your Duty to Secure Rivers Voters

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the Nigeria Police to prioritize its constitutional duty to provide security in Rivers State, expressing concern over a court ruling that reportedly restricts police involvement in securing voters for the upcoming local government elections.

In a statement on Friday, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), emphasized that the police must not allow any court order to hinder them from safeguarding the lives and property of citizens. Osigwe noted that if such an order exists, it should be challenged immediately.

“The duty to secure lives and property is a constitutional responsibility that cannot be restrained by a court,” Osigwe remarked. “The Police must act swiftly to set aside any judgment that seeks to prevent them from fulfilling their duty.”

The NBA’s warning comes amidst concerns about the handling of security for the local government elections scheduled in Rivers State on October 5, 2024. The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, recently announced that police officers would not provide security during the elections due to a court directive. This has raised alarm among legal experts and stakeholders.

In response, the NBA expressed solidarity with its Rivers State chapters, condemning the police’s public statement and urging the force to reconsider its stance. “We find it deeply troubling that the police would brazenly announce their withdrawal from their constitutional role of providing security in purported compliance with a court order,” said Osigwe.

Additionally, the NBA raised concerns over reports that some police officers were involved in an attempt to cart away electoral materials from the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) in the dead of night.

Osigwe warned that failing to provide security during the elections could lead to a breakdown of law and order. “The people of Rivers must never be left unprotected, no matter the circumstances,” he concluded.