Stop Using Checkpoints For Extortion, Respect Human Dignity, IGP Tells Police Officers

The acting Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has warned police officers attached to the various checkpoints across the nation’s roads to stop extorting motorists.
The police boss said those who refuse to turn a new leaf would be made to face the wrath of the law in accordance with the police rules and disciplinary measures.
The IGP gave the warning yesterday while addressing officers and men of the state police command during a meeting held at the Officers Mess in Port Harcourt as part of his three-day official visit to the Rivers State Police Command in Port Harcourt.
Egbetokun’s message was delivered by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 16, Yenagoa covering Rivers and Bayelsa States, AIG Ben Okolo.
He explained that the road checkpoints were built to help the police combat crimes and not to be used as an avenue to extort money from members of the public.
He warned that any police officer caught in the act of extortion would be arrested and sanctioned accordingly.
He urged the officers to uphold justice, fairness, human dignity and human rights and work in accordance with the police rules of engagement.
According to him, the act of intimidation, harassment and show of insensitivity against the civil populace will no longer be tolerated in the police.
He said the core value of the Police is to do things right.
“We may have one, two, three or four who may decide not to do the right thing in the police but our core value is to do the right things, protect the dignity of human rights and work by the rules”, he stated.
Okolo, while responding to the address of by the state commissioner of police, said the acting Inspector General of police was not unaware of the various challenges facing the command.
He commended the command’s stride in crime fighting and urged the officers to sustain the tempo and maintain a peaceful environment.
“Our mandate is to provide a calm and peaceful environment space devoid of crisis. Yes, catching and arresting a criminal who committed crime and providing a crime free and peaceful environment both ways are important”, he stressed.
Earlier, in his address of welcome, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Emeka Nwoyi, thanked the AIG for the visit, saying his visit will help to boost the morale of officers in their quest to prevent and fight crimes.
Nwoyi told the visiting AIG that the command has 11 area commands with 70 divisional areas, adding that the state occupied a strategic position in the economic development of the country.
He listed some of the challenges facing the command to include inadequate arms and ammunition, housing and patrol vehicles.
He, however, commended the Rivers State Government for its support to the command in the area of logistics and assured of the command’s commitment to eradicate crimes and criminality in the State.

By: Akujobi Amadi