By Nelita Mbang
The Cross River State Police Command has warned officers against unlawful detention, abuse of police powers and the criminalization of civil disputes, insisting that professionalism and respect for citizens’ rights must remain central to policing.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, gave the warning on Thursday, November 5, 2026, during unscheduled visits to State Housing, Federal Housing and Ikpa Omin Police Divisions in the state capital.
The visits, conducted under the Command’s ongoing Management by Walking About (MBWA) initiative, were aimed at strengthening operational supervision, assessing divisional performance and ensuring compliance with established policing standards.
During the visits, CP Ordue inspected detention facilities, security infrastructure, operational facilities within the divisions and interacted with officers and men to identify their operational challenges and assess their preparedness for effective service delivery.
The police commissioner particularly cautioned officers against using their positions to intimidate, harass or intimidate citizens over contractual disagreements, land disputes and other civil transactions.
He stressed that the police in the Cross River must not be turned into an instrument of debt recovery, adding that officers must be able to distinguish between civil disputes and genuine criminal allegations before initiating investigations.
According to him, only matters that disclose criminal elements should be subjected to criminal investigation in accordance with the law.
The Cross River Police boss directed divisional heads to strengthen internal supervision, uphold the fundamental rights of citizens and ensure proper documentation and compliance with established procedures governing arrest, investigation and detention.
He maintained that professionalism, accountability and respect for the rule of law were non-negotiable in the discharge of police responsibilities.
Explaining the importance of the MBWA initiative, the commissioner said it was designed to bridge the gap between command-level leadership and operational realities through direct engagement, firsthand assessment and sustained supervision of police divisions.
He reassured residents of the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, addressing security concerns and providing professional and accountable policing services.
The commissioner urged members of the public to support the police by providing timely and credible information that could assist in preventing and combating crime.
The warnings were contained in a press release signed by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, on November 6, 2026.
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