IGP warns police officers against trampling on citizens’ rights

 

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has cautioned officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force enforcing the lockdown and social restriction orders to ensure that rights of citizens are not infringed upon under any pretext.

Also, security personnel should ensure that persons on essential duties, duly exempted from the restriction orders, are accorded due courtesies and unfettered access as they go about their work, the IGP directed.

He noted that the global community is now in extraordinary times, with the lockdown taking its toll on every component of our national life.

A statement by the Force PRO, DCP Frank Mba, quoted the IGP as saying that all police officers deployed for the enforcement of these restriction orders must be professional, humane and tactful and must show utmost respect to the citizenry.

“To this end, the IGP has directed Command Commissioners of Police to immediately commence conduct monitoring of Police Officers deployed on enforcement duties in their areas of responsibilities.

READ: Reduce detention of suspects to terrorists, armed robbers – Police IG

“The IGP has equally charged Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) across the nation to ensure adequate supervision of personnel under their watch, as well as due compliance with the Standard Operating Procedure guiding this special task.

“The AIGs and CPs are also to ensure robust anti-crime patrols and surveillance around vulnerable targets such as medical facilities, shops and markets, residential areas, financial institutions and Automated Teller Machines (ATM) points, amongst others so that criminals do not take undue advantage of the current COVID-19 challenge to perpetrate crimes against the citizenry,“ the statement stated.

Mba said the IGP expressed “profound gratitude” to Nigerians for their resilience and voluntary compliance with the social restriction orders and cooperation with the Police at all times.

“He urges citizens to continue to observe all precautionary measures issued by relevant health authorities in order for the nation to defeat this pandemic,” the Force PRO added.