The Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, Rashid Afegbua, has placed a strict ban on illegal stop-and-search operations, harassment of citizens, profiling, extortion, and other unprofessional behaviour by police officers in the state.
He warned that such actions are no longer allowed anywhere in Cross River and said any officer found guilty will face disciplinary punishment.
Afegbua announced the directive on Friday during the official launch of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), introduced as part of ongoing reforms in the Nigeria Police Force under the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.
As part of the restructuring, the police chief also dissolved several existing tactical teams, including the Rapid Response Squad, Anti-Kidnapping Squad, and Anti-Cultism Squad.
He explained that the newly created unit is designed to respond quickly to serious crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, cult violence, and other major security threats using intelligence-led policing methods.
According to him, the reform is aimed at building a more professional, accountable, and community-focused police system that respects human rights and operates with integrity.
He appointed CSP Titus Udofia as the Commander of the new unit, with headquarters located at the State Command in Calabar.
Afegbua also stated that the unit will operate in two main sectors: Sector One will cover the northern part of the state, including Ikom and Ogoja, while Sector Two will cover the central axis, including Akamkpa and Ugep.
He further explained that officers assigned to the unit were carefully screened and trained in intelligence gathering, lawful use of force, and proper protection of citizens’ rights before deployment.
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