An Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has commended the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, for maintaining strict disciplinary measures in the Nigeria Police Force by getting rid of errant and high-handed policemen within the Force and exposing them to the public to beware and take note of such bad eggs.
Olajengbesi, who is the Managing Partner at Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor, said if the energy and value system of professionalism and strict discipline is sustained, the police would witness a turnaround that will significantly reduce extrajudicial killings and abuse of firearms by police officers.
The lawyer also commended the Nigerian people and the media for having the courage to report cases of abuse by policemen all over the country.
According to reports, scores of high-handed policemen have been dismissed and deranked or even prosecuted for different cases of abuses since the assumption of IGP Baba on April 6, 2021.
Olajengbesi said, “If the energy and value system of professionalism and strict discipline are sustained, the police will witness a new era and turnaround which will reinforce the trust of the people in the Force. The IGP should not relent in sanitising the Force for evil to thrive when it is not exposed or when there are no strict sanctions to serve as deterrence.
“The Nigerian people and the media should also be commended for having the courage to report cases of abuse by policemen and the outcries on social media which have spurred the many disciplinary actions taken against power-drunk, trigger-happy cops. Policemen are supposed to protect the masses and not to maul and exploit innocent Nigerians because they have rifles.”
This week, the police deranked one Adejoh Siaka from Inspector to Sergeant in Rivers State following complaints and findings on video evidence widely circulated on social media of assault, discreditable conduct, and incivility to members of the public.
The trio, Inspr. Dahiru Shuaibu, Sgt. Abdullahi Badamasi, and Sgt. Isah Danladi were also dismissed in Katsina State for firing shots from their official firearms into the air despite police policy against firing in the air, standard operating procedure and relevant Force regulations.
In Delta State, the police dismissed a trigger-happy police inspector identified as Ebri Ubi who allegedly shot and killed Mr. Onyeka Ibe, while on Stop and Search duty along Ugbolu-Illah Road in Oshimili North local government area of Delta State on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
Also, the IG immediately replaced the Commissioner of Police on election duty in Adamawa State, Mohammed Barde, amid the controversial and dramatic supplementary election.
In October 2022, seven senior police officers were dismissed and 10 officers were demoted over alleged gross misconduct. In December 2022, the police in Imo State dismissed seven officers over alleged extortion in the state.
At least 31 policemen have been dismissed from service over various offences between April 2021 and October 2022 for offences like extrajudicial killings, extortion and brutality among others.
