Rights Group Criticises Delta Police’s Operation VELVET Enforcement Drive, Demands Intelligence-Led Approach

By Endurance Ikanone

The Delta State Director of the Conference for the Actualisation of Human Rights, Prince Ukuanovwe Godstime Oj, has criticised the manner in which the ongoing Operation VELVET enforcement exercise by the Delta State Police Command is being implemented, calling for a lawful, humane and accountable approach to policing.

Prince Oj, in a statement titled “My Position on Operation Velvet,” acknowledged the responsibility of the police to maintain public safety, enforce applicable laws and protect lives and property. However, he argued that law enforcement agencies must operate within the limits of their statutory powers and should not become de facto revenue-generating institutions.

He said the police had identified vehicles without valid documents, unregistered vehicles, vehicles without number plates, and vehicles with defaced, obscured, altered or deliberately covered number plates as targets of the operation.

According to him, the police have also stated that the exercise is intended to improve road safety and security.

While recognising the legitimacy of these objectives, the human rights advocate expressed concern that the enforcement process could create additional hardship for citizens, particularly amid the difficult economic conditions facing Nigerians.

He maintained that authorities should consider the circumstances of vehicle owners when enforcing documentation and registration requirements, arguing that not every failure to comply with vehicle regulations is necessarily a deliberate attempt to break the law.

“No responsible citizen deliberately wants to drive an unregistered vehicle, use a defaced number plate or neglect the renewal of required vehicle documents,” Prince Oj stated, stressing the importance of taking citizens’ economic realities into consideration when implementing enforcement measures.

He called on the Nigerian Police Force to embrace more creative, intelligence-led and technology-driven methods of policing, rather than relying excessively on roadside enforcement as a primary means of addressing security and regulatory concerns.

The Delta State director argued that modern policing should focus on intelligence gathering, proactive crime prevention, community engagement and the use of technology to identify and address criminal activities.

He said security enforcement should protect citizens and their property instead of unnecessarily increasing their hardship, pain and suffering.

“The era of lazy policing must give way to intelligence-led policing, technology, community engagement and proactive crime prevention,” he declared.

Prince Oj further expressed particular concern about the implementation of Operation VELVET, stating that he would engage the organisation’s National Director, Barr. Omemiroro Maxwell Ogedegbe, for a legal and human rights review of the exercise.

He explained that the proposed review would examine the enforcement process and determine what lawful steps could be taken in cases where citizens’ rights may have been violated.

The human rights advocate emphasised that the police have a legitimate duty to protect society and enforce the law, but maintained that such responsibilities must be exercised with due regard for the rights and dignity of members of the public.

He identified dignity, due process and protection from unlawful harassment, extortion and abuse as essential rights that citizens should enjoy during law enforcement operations.

According to him, effective policing should not be measured solely by the number of arrests, vehicle seizures or enforcement activities carried out, but also by the legality, fairness and accountability of the methods employed.

He called for a balanced approach that would enable the police to enforce vehicle regulations while ensuring that citizens are treated fairly and in accordance with the law.

Prince Oj’s position highlights the need for continued attention to the relationship between law enforcement and human rights, particularly in operations involving motorists and vehicle documentation.

He urged the police to remain firm in carrying out their statutory responsibilities while ensuring that their methods are lawful, humane and transparent.

“The police have a legitimate duty to protect society. Citizens equally have a legitimate right to dignity, due process and protection from unlawful harassment, extortion and abuse,” he said.

Concluding his statement, the Delta State director reiterated his opposition to enforcement practices that could place unnecessary burdens on citizens and called for policing strategies that prioritise public safety, respect for human rights and institutional accountability.

“Law enforcement must be firm, but it must also be lawful, humane and accountable,” Prince Oj stated.