IGBOZURUOKE MEDIA

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called on the Imo State Police Command to urgently address allegations of harassment, arbitrary arrests, and extortion targeting students and young people in Imo State, particularly around the Federal Polytechnic Nekede axis in Owerri.

In an open letter dated March 1, 2026, titled “Save Our Students and Young People from Police Predatory Practices,” RULAAC expressed “deep concern” over what it described as renewed reports of abusive policing practices affecting students and youths in the area.

According to RULAAC, its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, witnessed scenes of panic on Friday, February 27, 2026, after visiting a relaxation spot near the Nekede Polytechnic area following a burial ceremony in Mbaise.

RULAAC said the atmosphere turned chaotic when police officers reportedly arrived to conduct what students described as a routine operation targeting young people.

“Young boys and girls ran helter-skelter following the arrival of police officers reportedly conducting what has now become a ‘routine’ operation, targeting students for arrest and search,” the letter stated.

According to RULAAC, students who spoke with the group alleged a pattern of random stop-and-search operations, intrusive searches of female students’ handbags, and unlawful inspection of mobile phones belonging to young men.

RULAAC further claimed that arrests were sometimes made over possession of cigarettes, lighters, or condoms, with detainees allegedly required to pay bail fees starting from ₦30,000 to secure release.

The group also alleged that dressing styles such as wearing miniskirts, moving at night, or wearing outfits perceived as resembling security uniforms were frequently used as grounds for arrest.

“These practices, if accurate, amount to profiling, harassment, abuse of power, and organised extortion. They criminalise youthfulness rather than crime,” RULAAC said.

It stressed that possession of cigarettes, lighters, or condoms is not a criminal offence under Nigerian law.

RULAAC added that law enforcement agencies are empowered to enforce existing laws, “not invent offences to justify revenue extraction from vulnerable young people.”

The advocacy group recalled that similar complaints were raised during the First Women, Youth and Police Dialogue on Insecurity and Crime Prevention through Partnership Building held in Owerri on May 23, 2024.

The event was jointly organised by RULAAC and the African Youth Initiative on Crime Prevention (AYCRIP) in partnership with the Imo State Police Command.

At the dialogue, RULAAC noted that the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, represented by ACP Edwin J. Mpat, pledged improved collaboration between the police and young people.

RULAAC noted that the National President of the National Association of Imo State Students (NAISS), Comrade Obi Okechukwu Anthony, had at the time raised concerns about the persistent harassment of students across campuses, urging authorities to involve students in safety initiatives rather than subject them to intimidation.

RULAAC said the Police Public Relations Officer of the Imo State Police Command, Okoye Henry, had also promised to escalate the concerns and facilitate dialogue sessions aimed at rebuilding trust, the group said.

“Unfortunately, recent reports suggest that rather than improving, the situation may be deteriorating,” the letter added.

RULAAC outlined several concerns, including alleged arbitrary stop-and-search practices that violate constitutional safeguards and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), as well as what it described as “extortion disguised as bail,” noting that bail remains free under Nigerian law.

The group also raised concerns about gender-based intrusion during searches and youth profiling around campuses, warning that such practices erode public trust in law enforcement.

RULAAC demanded that the Commissioner of Police in Imo State immediately investigate the allegations, publicly reaffirm that bail is free, and issue clear operational guidelines on lawful stop-and-search procedures.

The group further demanded the establishment of a transparent complaints mechanism accessible to students and requested that the police convene a dialogue meeting with student representatives, including NAISS, within 30 days.

RULAAC warned that predatory policing could worsen already-strained police-community relations in the state.

“Students are not prey. Young people are not walking ATMs. Policing must not become a nightly hunt for revenue,” the group stated.

It added that protecting students is both a legal responsibility and essential to the long-term stability of Imo State, while reaffirming its willingness to engage constructively with authorities to promote accountability and rights-respecting policing. (Sahara Reporters)