Alhaji Tambari Yabo Mohammad, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 9, Umuahia, Abia state has warned policemen in the zone against accidental discharge, even as he said that such discharge results from act of carelessness on the part of the officers and men of the Force.
He said that Police High Command would not tolerate an act of indiscipline from any policeman,urging them to abide by the code of conduct recently launched by the Inspector General of Police.
Mohammad also warned his men against meddling into civil matters such as land matters, marriage issues among others, saying that they have no power to dabble into such issues. He said that such issues were better handled by the law court, and not by the police.
The AIG spoke at the weekend in Aba when he visited the Aba Area Command as part of his familiarization visit to the Police Commands under the zone.
Addressing officers and men of the Aba Area Command, Mohammad also warned his men against unlawful detention, saying it could cost the police a lot in form of payment of damages.
His words: “I have warned that there is a need for us to go back to the olden days of policing in this country, by ensuring that work ethics are properly obeyed. Officers must be punctual. The tradition in the force is that officers must be prompt at their beats.
“Unlawful detention in the station is also not allowed, because if you unlawfully detain anybody, that person has the right to sue you, joining the Inspector General of Police (IG), AIG and the Commissioner of Police and if care is not taken, the Police could be asked to pay for damages”.
The AIG also stressed on the need for discipline in the Force. According to him, “the Inspector General of police recently launched the police code of conduct, which spells out how officers and men of the Nigeria Police must conduct themselves. We expect to see well disciplined officers who do not see themselves as masters, but servants of the people.
“There is no provision for rudeness and naked use of force, there is no provision for indiscipline in the Nigeria Police, we don’t want to hear accidental discharge in the service. There is nothing like that, it is carelessness.
“The police code specifies clearly when a police officer can use firearms to protect himself or a citizen. Anything outside that provision is murder, and the officer involved must face murder charge”.
Mohammad equally warned against general indiscipline in the Force, saying “we want to see a well disciplined Force that is ready to carry out its statutory functions as contained in the Police Act and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We would not like to see any police officer who is shabbily dressed”.
On how to fight crime, the AIG explained that “trying to know where the criminals are and how to nab them and prevent them from hatching their plans is the best way to stop crime, rather than allow it to happen before reactively follows the footsteps of the criminals”.
He also commended the public for offering useful information to his men in doing their work. “I am happy to say that members of the public are co-operating with us. They are providing us with reliable information that has been helping us to carry out our duties”.
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