CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Many Nigerians may probably not know that it is a criminal offence and punishable by prison sentence for not assisting a Police officer in danger while performing his lawful duty.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has stated that refusal by any Nigerian called upon to assist its officers being assaulted or in danger of assault or resistance in the discharge of their duties, is a punishable offence under the law.
This was disclosed by the Force Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement that has gone viral on the social media.
The Force, in a post on its X page and by its spokesperson, ACP Adejobi, explained that while obstructing or resisting public officers from discharging their duties is a crime, refusal to help them while in danger is also an offence.
Adejobi’s post, titled: ‘Know The Law and Be Guided’, is coming on the heels of trending videos showing a Policeman in a physical encounter with an unidentified woman and another between two young men and Police officers at a checkpoint.
The Police image maker quoted Section 99 of the Police Act 2020, which frowns at refusal by anyone called upon to assist a Police officer being assaulted or in danger of being assaulted.
“When a person is called upon to aid and assist a Police officer, who is, while in the discharge of his duty, assaulted or resisted or in danger of being assaulted or resisted, and the person refuses or neglects to aid and assist, the person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for a term of three months or both,” Adejobi wrote.
Some Nigerians have reacted over the statement and expressed surprise that such a law exists while others stated that it depends on the situation when a Police officer can be assisted while in danger.
Mrs. Ronke explained that if a Police officer is performing illegal duty, such officer should not expect any assistance from the members of the public because of public perception of Police officers in the society.
She noted that such law is applicable if the Police can build better public image, where the members of the public will trust and have confidence in them.