Train your men, Methodist Bishop tells IGP

Against the backdrop of inhuman treatment often meted out to civilians by men of the Nigeria Police Force, the Bishop of Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Ogbomoso, The Right Reverend Olugbenga Fafeyiwa has charged the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to embark on continuous training of his men, particularly on rules of engagement and civil policing.

The Bishop, who dropped the charge at the just concluded 20th Synod of the Diocese which held at Methodist Church Nigeria, Oko, in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, observed that many innocent Nigerians were being unfairly treated by men of the Nigeria Police Force.

Bishop Fafeyiwa condemned, in strong terms, assault on, unlawful arrest and extortion of civilians by men of the Force.

“The IGP should embark on training and retraining of his men, particularly on rules of engagement and civil policing. He should also not hesitate to show the bad eggs in the Force the way out,” the clergy said.

The Bishop called on the IGP to implement his proposed psychological screening for men of the Nigeria Police Force, adding that such exercise would upgrade the standard of the Force tremendously.

In view of dwindling revenue allocation from the federation account, the Bishop admonished the Oyo State government to boast its revenue generation by pursuing a holistic industrial revolution agenda that would entice manufacturing industries to the state.

Speaking on the state of the nation at a special thanksgiving service, held at Methodist Church Cathedral, Arowomole, Ogbomoso, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Diocese, the Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Samuel Uche appealed to Nigerians to remain prayerful and patriotic despite many challenges confronting the country.

The Prelate expressed hope that the country would overcome her challenges sooner than expected by many Nigerians.

In a release, issued at the end of the synod and signed by the diocesan Public Relations Officer, Mr Jacob Oke, the Church called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent steps to salvage the country’s economy from total collapse.

The release described the Nigeria economy as “being in a state of regression, requiring both immediate and long term remedies to rescue it from total collapse”.

It further stated that the lingering scarcity of petroleum in the country, with its attendant artificial hike in price, had inflicted untold hardship on Nigerians, adversely affecting economic activities in the country.

The church enjoined the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for economic growth and provide jobs for the teeming unemployed Nigerians.

The annual event, with the theme “Chosen to Bear Fruit” featured Holy Communion Service, special messages, prayer for the nation, Bible Study and thoughtful deliberations on various arms of the church.