Area Commanders, DPOs In Trouble Over Killing Of Civilians

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The recent shooting and killing of civilians by trigger happy police officers may have landed seniors police officers in the positions of Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Unit Heads in trouble in Lagos State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that it had to do with the visit of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Muhammad Adamu, who warned them that hence forth they will be held responsible for lack of supervision if there is any killing of civilians in their sections, Divisions and Area Commands.
Since the warning on Monday, the officers seem to be under pressure on how to control the use of fire arms by the officers who have not been retrained over the years on the job and the use of weapons coupled with fact that indiscipline had eaten deep into the rank and file of officers.

Some senior police officers told P.M.EXPRESS that they try to reorient the officers on the use of rifles but the indiscipline among them would not allow them to do their job professionally and now when they misfire, their seniors will be held responsible for their actions.
IGP Adamu had said that any police officer found liable for misuse of power which resulted in the death, injury or indignity of citizens, would be dismissed from service and prosecuted in court for criminal offence.
Adamu , who said he visited the Command over the recent killing of civilians by the police, expressed concern over the act.
While delivering his speech during his official visit to Lagos State on Monday, he also said the line supervisors of such officer, including the Area Commander, Divisional Police Officer or Sectional Heads, would be sanctioned for lacking supervision.
The IGP, expressing his condolences to the bereaved families of the victims of the misuse of firearms in the state, said the recent abuse of power by some police officers in the state was against the statutory provisions of the Nigeria Police Force. He added that an administrative approach had been put in place to re- orientate personnel to enable them function in line with professional conducts.

Adamu said, “My visit become expedient in view of the recent trend of unprofessional conducts by some personnel who, in utter disregard of their professional training , international protocols , constitutional dictates, Force policies and ethical standards, have continued to drag the Force into acts that pitch us against the citizens we were engaged, paid and statutorily obligated to serve and protect .
“ From January to April, 2019, Lagos State has recorded four incidents of misuse of firearms which resulted in extrajudicial killings of young citizens of this country and injury to others. I must emphasise that enough is enough. The nation and indeed the Police under the current leadership can no longer tolerate abuse associated with the police either in Lagos or any other part of the country.
“I have already ordered that a signal be circulated to all Police Commands and Formations, warning of dire consequences against any personnel that by their incorrigible acts, deviate from accepted police culture and values.
“Our visit is to reinforce the extant Force Accountable Policy which holds any officer professionally and criminally liable for the consequences of their actions, particularly, if such misuse of power resulted into the death, injury or indignity of citizens.
“Towards this end, I am sounding this note of warning loud and clear that any police personnel that insists on being incorrigible by engaging in abuse of his or her powers or misuses his weapons with fatal outcomes and in utter disregard of statutory provisions will be arrested, investigated through our internal disciplinary machinery and if found culpable, shall be dismissed from service. In addition, such personnel will be charged to court for murder or sundry offences depending on his or her level of criminal liability in the instance.
“Furthermore, the line supervisors of such officer, including the Area Commander, Divisional Police Officer or Sectional Head, shall be held vicariously liable for lacking supervision and shall, be similarly sanctioned. ”