– President Muhammadu Buhari warns men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) against arresting innocent citizens
– Buhari notes recent complaints from civil society groups concerning the arrest of innocent Nigerians and the killing of others
– The president wants the leadership of the law enforcement agency to arrest and punish erring operatives President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, October 28, commended the men of the Nigeria Police Force for their efforts to rid the country of alleged fraudsters, also called ‘yahoo-yahoo’ boys.
The president, who spoke through his deputy, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, also warned the police against arresting or harassing innocent people.
Delivering his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the conference and retreat for senior police officers in Lagos, the president said the law enforcement agency remains very important because it is the closest to the people.
“The police cannot escape public scrutiny and sometimes criticism; Nigerian people old and young want our police force to be better and to do better; they want to be even prouder of your service than ever before. “
This is why in some of our urban areas we want to see more compliance with the rule of law and in dealing with Nigerians,” Buhari said.
Buhari noted recent complaints by civil society groups about the arrest of Nigerian citizens just because they look successful and are carrying laptops. “
Yes we must apprehend yahoo criminals but we cannot harass young men and women on the streets and in taxis most of whom are merely going about their legitimate businesses.
“There are also cases of extra judicial killings and injuries; misuse of weapons and excessive use of force by some members of the force,” the president lamented.
Buhari warned that conducts by a few bad police officers must stop just as he tasked leaders of the police force to ensure that impunity of any kind is discouraged and punished where found.
Buhari, however, described the police as a national asset making the country proud both locally and internationally.
Locally in the past one year alone the Nigeria police has between January and this month arrested over ;2,348 armed robbery suspects – 1,412 suspected kidnappers 694 murder suspects, 1,513 cultists safely rescued 826 kidnap victims, recovered 1,660 firearms and 1612 vehicles,” he noted.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu earlier mentioned constant engagement of strategic managers as well as consistent training as very important for effective policing. EQUITY NEWS.NG earlier reported how an 18-year-old Elikor Ehud, a resident of Lagos, allegedly stole from a church in Lagos.
Ehud resident in Ejigbo is answering questions after he was arrested by the police in Lagos for allegedly stealing tithes and offerings belonging to the Chosen Vine Ministry, Furniture Avenue.