IGP warns against illegal deployment of policemen

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has warned senior police officers against illegally deploying policemen to provide security for very important persons (VIPs) who do not have the right to such services.

Arase stated that he would punish Divisional Police Officers and other senior officers found engaging in illegal deployment of junior officers, stressing that he would not condone the act.

Addressing officers and men during his visit to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Abuja, the IGP cautioned policemen against abandoning their duty posts at night, saying he had observed that most of them disappear from duty by 12 mid-nights.

He admonished senior officers to visit their subordinates to ensure that they were on duty round the clock, particularly at night.

“We have been able to put the Safer Highways back on the road, though the implementation of the Safer Highways has not been as robust as I anticipated and I have had cause to discuss that with your commissioner of police.

“You should be able to keep the security space safe, but once it’s 12 or 1 o’clock, you discover that you people go to sleep; the officers of the command, your visiting rounds should be more rapid, officers should make the rounds and ensure that your men are on duty.

“The illegal deployment of police is not going to be accepted, people who are not entitled to policemen should not have police attached to them. That one is very important, if you are a Divisional Police Officer or Area Commander, don’t deploy our officers without permission, if you do that and you are caught, severe sanctions awaits you.”

Arase also cautioned the policemen against collecting bribes from the public, stressing that this makes them look like beggars receiving alms, noting that the financial tip cannot translate into any tangible amount.

He challenged the officers to set standards so that the public can respect them, stressing that investigations should be intelligence-driven.

The IGP complained that incivility to the public and illegal detention by policemen is costing the force a lot in court-awarded damages, noting that police accounts with commercial banks were being depleted for acts of indiscipline by policemen.

He advised policemen against adopting custodial approach to policing, and warned them against dabbling in civil cases, noting that they could also engage in arbitration and mediation instead of detaining individuals and demanding for surety for bail.

Arase said 36,000 police officers were scheduled to attend promotion courses soon, adding that their needs, including feeding, would be taken care of during the programme.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, asked the IGP to create more area command divisions for Abuja to enable the police to better protect the city.