The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, has debunked the claim by striking judiciary workers in the state who alleged that they decided to continue the strike as a result of the fear of insecurity.
Ogunsakin told newsmen on Tuesday that the state police command had been providing security in the courts and residences of judges.
The CP said that the continued strike action of the state chapter of JUSUN should and cannot be linked to insecurity, adding that the command addressed the issue of security immediately they were raised.
He said that “We have been intensifying police deployment in all courts and judiciary staff quarters, enhanced covert coverage and surveillance of all courts and judiciary staff quarters.
“Other strategies put in place included re-enforced security to all judges and their residences, immediate formation of a dedicated Intervention Unit for swift intervention in case of any security challenge and rejuvenation of the already existing judges Protection Unit”.
Ogunsakin noted that some of the statements credited to JUSUN did not lend credence to the claim that their strike was premised on the fear of insecurity.
He said, “It is clear to the general public that the refusal of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to call off their ongoing strike cannot be said to be premised on their security, which the commissioner of police has addressed.
“It has become increasingly apparent that beyond the issue of security, there are other reasons, which have continued to keep the state chapter of JUSUN away from resumption of work.
“This can be gleaned from JUSUN’s document, under the subtitle: The Fears, which states as follows: The directive of the JSC that no staff should carry out any official directive in line with the NJC letter put the workers on the crossroad. That directive that directives have started coming to the workers and the threat of dismissal appears potent and very strong.”
He recalled that the national leadership of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria had on Monday expressed fear over the security of its members’ lives.
