Police Must Not Become Debt Collectors, Cross River Commissioner Warns Officers
By OFFIONG ARCHIBONG
THE Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, has warned officers against unlawful detention, abuse of authority and the misuse of police facilities to settle civil disputes.
Ordue issued the warning on Friday during unscheduled visits to the State Housing, Federal Housing and Ikpa Omin Police Divisions in Calabar.
The visits formed part of his ongoing Management by Walking About (MBWA) initiative, which allows senior command officials to assess police operations firsthand.
He cautioned officers against using the police as instruments of intimidation, harassment or debt recovery. In particular, he warned against intervening improperly in contractual disagreements, land disputes and other civil transactions.
According to him, officers must distinguish between civil disagreements and genuine criminal allegations. Consequently, they must not turn purely civil matters into criminal cases.
Ordue stressed that only complaints involving identifiable criminal elements should attract criminal investigations in accordance with the law.
During the visits, the commissioner inspected detention cells, security facilities and other operational infrastructure. He also assessed the divisions’ preparedness, administrative procedures and compliance with established policing standards.
Furthermore, he directed officers in charge to strengthen internal supervision and respect citizens’ fundamental rights. He also demanded proper documentation of arrests, investigations and detention procedures.
The police chief reiterated that professionalism, accountability and respect for the rule of law remained non-negotiable in the discharge of police duties.
He explained that the MBWA initiative sought to bridge the gap between command-level leadership and operational realities. Through direct engagement with officers, he said, the command could better understand challenges and assess how police divisions performed.
Ordue assured residents that the command remained committed to protecting lives and property, addressing security concerns and promoting responsive policing.
He also urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information to support crime prevention and security operations.
