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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, Rashid Afegbua, has launched the state unit of the Violent Crimes Response Unit (VCRU) to replace dissolved tactical squads.
He said the dissolution of the Rapid Response Squad, Anti-Kidnapping Squad and Anti-Cultism Squad was in line with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, noting that the new unit would handle violent crimes through intelligence-driven operations.
Agegbua also introduced a civilian oversight board to strengthen public trust.
Speaking on the oversight board, he said: “The board exists to strengthen public confidence in the VCRU and to serve as a respected bridge between the Force and Nigerian society.”
The board, being chaired by Prince Ntui Ogar, comprises representatives of civil society organisations, traditional institutions, the legal profession, and community leaders.
It is expected to receive public feedback and submit observations to the Commissioner of Police, who must respond in writing within 30 days.
The commissioner said members of the unit were vetted by a screening team, led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abubakar Arugungu Ibrahim and trained on human rights, the 1999 Constitution, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, and United Nations principles on the use of force.
He also said a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Titus Udofia, would serve as commander of the unit. He added that operations would be intelligence-led, with no spontaneous, random or appearance-based operations permitted.
The board chairman of VCRU, Prince Ogar, said the oversight board would help bridge the gap between civilians and the police
The VCRU Commander, Titus Udofia, said there was no longer room for police brutality in the new unit.
