Police bans wearing of T-shirts, mufti by officers on road block, stop and search

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered immediate ban by police officers on routine guard, patrol, road block and stop and search duties from wearing unapproved uniforms.

Baba expressed dismay at what the police authority described as “flagrant violation” of the approved Nigeria Police Force dress code by officers who have formed the habit of wearing t-shirts and face caps with “Special Forces”, “Commando”, “Gallant MOPOL”, “SCORPION”, and other inscriptions while on duty.

“Premised on this, the IGP has ordered an immediate ban on such unapproved apparels,” the acting Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement issued Friday.

Restating that the wearing of unapproved uniforms was not acceptable to the Force, Baba noted that uniform, a means of identification, has been abused by these officers who engage in improper dressing, while decrying the fear it creates in the minds of innocent Nigerians.

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“The IGP therefore ordered that henceforth, all police officers detailed for patrol, stop and search, check point, and other routine operational duties must be in approved uniforms for easy identification.  

“Consequently, the IGP has ordered that all Police disciplinary units particularly the Force Provost Marshal, the IGP X-Squad and Monitoring Unit to ensure the strict enforcement of the directive with severe sanctions for erring officers.

“The IGP has equally warned that all supervisory officers would be held vicariously liable in the event that personnel under their command violate this order. “The Inspector-General of Police has assured well-meaning members of the public that the Force leadership is committed to promoting strategic police reforms geared at sanitising operational engagements, and bequeathing to the nation a professional policing system as required,” the statement stated.