The Nigeria Police Force says it will sanction officials engaging in brutality and unprofessional misconducts in the discharge of their duties.
This warning was issued by the Police Commissioner of the the Ekiti State Command, Mr Wilson Inalegwu.
He said the cases of brutality had become an intolerable albatross of the Force, promising that it would be tackled to restore dignity in the nation’s policing system.
As part of efforts to address the trend, the police on Monday flagged off Public complains Rapid Response Unit in the state to collate complaints from the public.
Mr Inalegwu threatened that any police found culpable of professional misconduct by way of incivility or mishandling of weapons would be dismissed and prosecuted in line with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris.
Responsive Police
At the flag off ceremony held at the Okesa Police station in Ado Ekiti, Mr Inalegwu, disclosed that the unit was established to offer 24 hours services to the public by way of receiving complaints about public mis-demeanour of his men in their dealings with the citizens.
“The Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit is saddled with the responsibility of receiving and resolving complaints of police professional misconduct emanating from policing activities and operations .
“We have a way of dealing with misconduct in the police. The Commissioners of police can decide cases involving rank and file while the police Service Commission can deal with those from Assistant Superintendent of Police to the topmost officer.
“Whichever way it happens, professional misconduct won’t be tolerated. We won’t tolerate senseless killings of innocent Nigerians or misuse of firearms and any officer engaging in such will be investigated and will be dismissed and prosecuted if found guilty,” he stressed.
On the mode of operation of the unit, the Police Commissioner said: “The unit is available 24 hours a day to listen to members of the public from across the state. In line with the change agenda of the Federal Government and the change Begins with me campaign of the police Force.
“The unit has provided seven different platforms which are inscribed on the flyers through which the public can reach the unit- phone calls, SMS, Whatsapp, blackberry Messenger, Twitter, Facebook and e-mail.
“It would be recalled that on assumption of duty, IGP Idris promised Nigerians that the police Force will be repositioned to be more accountable, responsive, responsible and reliable”.
Mr Inalegwu added that the police would continue to make themselves accessible to the public and regain the confidence and reemphasize the ‘police is your friend’ mantra of the force.
“The police force must be responsible and responsive and we must gain public confidence so that the people can cooperate, appreciate and support the police throughout the state in carrying out their constitutional duties and other tasks associated with protection of lives and property,” he emphasised.
