Edo property committee not out to harass residents, Arase pledges

The Chairman of Edo State Protection of Private Property (PPP) Committee, Solomon Arase, has said his panel is not out to harass or intimidate citizens, but to join forces with the judiciary and relevant security agencies to ensure the implementation of the Private Property Protection Law.

A former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Arase, who presides over 12-man committee recently inaugurated by the state government, gave the assurance yesterday when he others members on a courtesy visit to the state police command; Zone 5 headquarters of the force; Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and office of the Chief Judge in Benin City.

He pledged that the panel would hold a workshop to sensitise citizens on the law. “We are not interested in prosecuting anyone, but we will get them involved by giving them orientation to ensure that everyone becomes conversant with the law so that they do not run afoul of it. For the law is no respecter of a person,” he stated.

Arase sought the full cooperation of the Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu and the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of the zone, Abubakar Adamu Mohammed, to enable his committee discharge its responsibility creditably.

The former IGP added: “We do not intend to apply force in achieving the needed result as the committee cannot do it alone without synergising with the relevant security agencies like the police. Inter-agency collaboration is required to succeed.”

He also called for the creation of a small team of police officers to liaise with the committee in investigating land issues, just as he indicated willingness to collaborate with the judiciary to interpret the law.

Gwandu thanked the team for the visit and assured them of their support. Chief Judge Esohe Frances Ikponmwen also assured of the judiciary’s support to adjudicate and interpret the law for the awareness of the people.