By Ahmed Ajikobi
Men and officers of the Kwara State Police Command who engage in extortion of the public especially on the highways now risk jail terms.
This was made known during a press briefing in Ilorin on Tuesday by the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The Kwara CP who frowned at the practice described it as an act of indiscipline and unethical habit adding that robbery charges would be pressed against any officer caught in the act.
Egbetokun said his attention was recently drawn to media reports about police officers extorting motorists on highways.
He said, “Some policemen on patrol not all, have been reported to be stopping young men on the road and searching their phones on suspicion that are internet fraudsters known as ‘Yahoo- Yahoo.
“In some cases, the young men, mostly university undergraduates are made to part with as little or as much as N2,000 for their release or release of their phones.
“Police have the responsibility to conduct stop and search and can indeed stop any person for search or search any personal belongings on reasonable suspicion of being connected or being a subject of crime. It is however unethical to seize and start searching anybody’s mobile phone on the road,” the CP said.
Speaking further, Egbetokun said the practice of searching the phone of an individual on the road for evidence of internet fraud amounts to conducting roadside investigation and a criminal offence if it ended in extortion or done with intent to extort.
“All policemen in this command especially patrol men are constantly being reminded that extorting while bearing fire arms completes the ingredients of the offence of armed robbery.
” Henceforth, any policeman found to be engaging in any form of extortion while armed on the highway will be arrested, detained, tried and if found guilty will be dismissed and charged with armed robbery,” the CP declared.
He however urged members of the public to report any case of police extortion directly to his office or call the following mobile numbers; 09033871133, 07015338157, 08070734277.
…charges Area Commanders, DPOs on community policing
By Ahmed Ajikobi
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has tasked all the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to embrace community policing.
He said all the officers in the Command are to adapt to new level of transparency and professionalism that will build trust and inspire public confidence in the police.
“Our intelligence unit is being revitalised to provide credible intelligent to enhance the quality of our decisions with respect to our operations. We are now more civil and proactive in our approach to solving issues of crime and criminality in our local communities,” he said.
He stated that recently when Kwara witnessed communal clashes in Moro and Oke Ero local governments areas, eight lives were lost and property worth N30 million were destroyed adding that, the loss would have been more but for the timely intervention of the police.
The CP however directed all the DPOs to immediately commence monthly peace and security meetings with all stake holders in their communities.
“This is aimed at promoting peace and to enhance the security of the local communities. It is also mandatory for DPOs to establish and maintain robust relationship and strong collaboration with sister agencies within their areas,” he submitted.
