
Ime Akpan
The acting inspector general of police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu has decried the incidence of extra-judicial killings by personnel of the police force saying area commanders, divisional police officers and sectional heads will henceforth carry the can whenever such incident occurs.
Adamu, who stated this in Lagos yesterday following recent killings by some policemen in Lagos and some other parts of the country, lamented that between January and April, 2019, Lagos recorded four incidents of misuse of firearms which resulted in the killing of young Nigerians and injury to others.
The acting police chief who addressed the police personnel in the state declared: “More worrisome is that two of these incidents occurred within the last two weeks. Aside negating our professional calling, extra-judicial acts of any description or level by any police personnel is an unacceptable anomaly that creates distrust and disdain between the citizens and their police and widen the trust gap between them.
“Most disturbing is that the fatalities that resulted from such indiscretion deployment of lethal force leave behind trails of unbearable eternal pains and sorrow within the families, friends and associates of the victim,” he said.
He said sectional heads and area commanders would be held responsible when their men erred adding that police personnel who engage in extra-judicial killing will be charged for murder.
Adamu who condoled with the families of victims of the recent incidents said: “The Nigeria Police does not and will never condone any form of abuse of power, acts resulting in misuse of firearms, over zealousness and sundry unprofessional conducts by any member of the police regardless of his or her rank or position.
“We remain a disciplined organisation that strives to advance its covenant with the citizens in relation to protecting their lives and property and safeguarding them against any form of threat. We shall continue to provide the requisite leadership that will uphold and advance these sacred obligations and we shall do such in the most transparent responsible, responsive and accountable manner.
“I want to reinforce the extant force accountability policy which holds any officer professionally and criminally liable for the consequences of their actions, particularly, if such misuse of power resulted into the death, injury or indignity of citizens. Towards this end, I am sounding this note of warning loud and clear that henceforth, any police personnel that insists on being incorrigible by engaging in abuse of his or her powers or misuse his weapons with fatal outcomes in utter disregard for statutory provisions, will be arrested, investigated through our internal disciplinary machinery and if found culpable, shall be dismissed from service.
“In addition, such personnel will be charged to court for murder or sundry offences depending on his or her level of criminal liability in the instance. Furthermore, the line supervisor of such officers including the Area
“Commander, divisional police officer or sectional head shall be held vicariously liable for lacking supervision and shall be similarly sanctioned. This is the force policy and no-one should be in doubt as to our strong will to enforce it,” said Adamu
The acting inspector general also said he had already ordered that a signal be circulated to all police commands and formations in the country warning of dire consequences against any personnel, who by their incorrigible acts, deviates from accepted police culture and values.
“It is with a deep sense of professional concern that I visit the Lagos State Police Command to address the personnel of the force in the state. This visit has become expedient in view of recent trend of unprofessional conduct by some personnel who in utter disregard for their professional training, international protocols, constitutional dictates, force policies and ethical standards, have continued to drag the force into acts that pitch it against the citizens we were engaged, paid and statutorily obliged to serve and protect.
“I must emphasise that enough is enough. The nation and indeed the police under the current leadership can no longer tolerate abuses associated with the police either in Lagos or any other part of the country. I have already ordered that a signal be circulated to all police commands and formations warning of dire consequences, against any personnel who by their incorrigible acts deviate from accepted police culture and values,” he said.
He also stated that policemen nationwide will start using stun guns for routine patrols because the police under the current leadership can no longer tolerate abuses associated with the police.
“In the long term, rather than the use of firearms, we shall henceforth use technologies and weapon systems such as electro-muscular disruption technology which is commonly known as teaser or stun guns by police for routine patrol, arrest duties and other low risk operations as a strategic approach towards reducing incidents of fatalities associated with misapplication of lethal weapons by the police as first line of response to any threat.”