Accidental Discharge: Rivers Police Sets Task Force

Following frequent cases of accidental discharge and unruly behaviour by some policemen, the Rivers State Police Command says it has set up a special task force headed by its Provost Marshall to monitor its men across the state.

Disclosing this to The Tide, Monday, the Rivers State Police spokeswomen, Dr. Rita Inoma-Abbey said the police authorities can no longer fold its arm and watch some uncivilised policemen brutalise and kill innocent citizens in the guise of ‘accidental discharge’.

She stated that the authorities are worried over the recent cases of deaths and brutalisations that were perpetrated by some of its men on duty.

“It is not that we have not been preaching about this issue, at every forum and interaction with our men. Commissioner has been stressing  on the need for policemen to handle their arms properly and stop acts of incivility to the public,” Inoma-Abbey declared.

She said the incident which occurred over the weekend, where three policemen died from bullet wounds due to poor arms handling has further underscored the need for the command to take urgent steps.

The Rivers police spokeswoman said the authorities in addition to the penalties involved would dismiss any policeman caught in such act.

She further declared: “We have advised every policeman to put their rifle in safety catch and muzzle up at every time”.

Dr. Inoma-abbey warned that no policeman would go scot free for any case of accidental discharge and that the police would not defend such officer as he or she would be dismissed and duly presented.

It would be recalled that last week Monday a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt sentenced to death one corporal Lawal for shooting a UNIPORT student in the guise of accidental discharge in 2006.