By Prince Woke
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) on Tuesday organized a training session for gender-based desk officers in the Rivers State Police Command to enhance their capacity in handling gender-based violence cases.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, said the training is part of ongoing efforts to improve the professionalism and responsiveness of police personnel, in line with directives from the Inspector General of Police.
“We have been having lectures like this from time to time as directed by the Inspector General of Police. We want you to come out in large numbers and gain something from every session. There is nothing more important than building our capacity to deliver service to humanity and make Rivers stand out,” CP Adepoju stated. He urged officers to make good use of the knowledge shared during the training and to implement what they’ve learned in their daily operations.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the event, Chairperson of FIDA Rivers, Life Jim George, said the paralegal training was designed to engage retired police officers, desk officers, and divisional officers in charge of gender-based crimes. The aim, she said, was to refresh their understanding of how to properly handle abuse cases and engage respectfully with survivors and reporters of gender-based violence.
“They need to be empathetic, to listen and not judge those who come forward. They should not create a toxic environment that drives victims away. Extorting or dismissing them undermines public trust in the police,” she explained. “This partnership with the Rivers State Police Command and PCRC was necessary to ensure officers are better equipped.”
George added that the training covered five key laws relevant to gender-based violence and said participants would receive certificates from FIDA, noting that such certification holds global recognition. “This is not a one-time training—it’s part of an ongoing series. We’ll continue visiting police divisions, engaging youth, women, community leaders, and gatekeepers across local governments,” she said.
She emphasized the importance of reporting and early intervention, urging officers to act with empathy. “We remind them that beyond being officers, they are human beings. When victims are turned away, they may fall into depression or worse. The law requires officers to act with compassion and fairness.”
Chairman of PCRC in Rivers State, Voke Emore, said the partnership with FIDA was rooted in a shared goal to bridge the gap between the community and the police. “One of the key responsibilities of the PCRC is to bring the police closer to the people. FIDA, as an international organization, advocates for the rights of women and children, so our collaboration ensures that the police are equipped to serve the community better,” he said.
Emore highlighted the need for continuous training and retraining of officers, especially those handling human rights and welfare-related cases. “This paralegal training is designed to build their capacity, even at the divisional level, to properly handle cases of abuse,” he added.
Participants at the training, in separate interviews, expressed gratitude to FIDA and PCRC for organizing the session and pledged to apply the knowledge gained in their handling of gender-based violence cases.
Certificates were issued to all participants at the conclusion of the training.
