The police in Ebonyi State have warned their officers to stop extortion, harassment, and illegal searches of people's mobile phones. They also reminded officers to always respect human rights.
The warning came from the Commissioner of Police in the state, Urunwa Okafor, during a meeting with senior officers in Abakaliki on Saturday.
This meeting happened after a recent gathering between the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Strategic Management Team of the Nigeria Police Force.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that senior officers at the meeting included Heads of Departments, Area Commanders, and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs).
While addressing the officers, Okafor shared the IGP’s instructions. She highlighted the need for discipline and accountability among officers. They must maintain high professionalism in their work.
She warned against misconduct like being rude to the public, extortion, harassment, and abuse of power while on duty.
The police commissioner made it clear that searching residents' mobile phones and personal devices without a valid search warrant is unacceptable.
According to her, such actions breach citizens’ rights and will not be tolerated by the police command.
She urged senior officers to keep a close eye on their staff. Okafor said that any failure in supervision that leads to misconduct would lead to disciplinary action against those in charge.
She also instructed officers to gather more intelligence as the elections approach. They need to ensure effective policing in their areas.
The commissioner told Area Commanders and DPOs to carry out aggressive raids on known criminal hideouts. This is to stop crime before it happens across the state.
Okafor encouraged all officers to avoid actions that could damage the image of the Nigeria Police Force. She stressed the importance of professionalism, integrity, respect for human rights, and courteous service in all dealings with the public.
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