June 12: IGP Reads Riot Act To Zonal AIGs, Command CPs

As June 12 commemoration of Democracy Day approaches, the
Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has directed
Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of
Police in states and FCT to deal firmly with any person or group
who may want to take advantage of the event to threaten internal
security order.

Speaking during a meeting with strategic commanders of the
Nigerian Police Force in Abuja, the IGP urged them to remain civil
with law abiding citizens during the Democracy Day celebration.

“The June 12 Democracy Day is days away. We are currently
reviewing the security situation, with a view to ensuring a
hitch-free exercise.

‘’Details of this will form part of our discussion. I must,
however, remind you all of the need to remain civil with law
abiding citizens, but firm with any person or group that may wish
to take advantage of the event to threaten our internal security
order,’’ he said.

Expressing dismay that most Command Commissioners of Police
‘still allow their officers to unnecessarily impound vehicles at
police stations, the IGP said: “Police facilities are not junkyards
and must not be turned to one. Indeed, such acts create
vulnerabilities that often engender attacks on our facilities.

“Accordingly, I task you to return to your commands and
undertake a major operation to clear all such indiscriminately
impounded vehicles off your stations.

‘’The compliance to this directive shall be confirmed in the
course of my on-going tours to your command and any departmental
head, zonal commander, commissioner of police or unit head that is
found wanting will be dealt with.

“I have also received reports of abuses associated with the use
of SPY plate numbers and tainted glasses. Accordingly, henceforth
the issuance of SPY plate numbers and tainted glasses permits are
hereby suspended.

‘’The existing authorizations are being reviewed and a protocol
to regulate the issuance of such permits will be evolved.

“An emerging trend in which some motorists cover their plate
numbers has also been noticed across the country. This practice
inhibits our law enforcement operations and hence, is intolerable.
Consequently, commissioners of Police are tasked to as part of
their operations, to arrest any motorist involved in this act.

“Furthermore, I have been receiving reports that some
Commissioners of Police are still allowing the mounting of road
blocks in their jurisdictions. For the avoidance of doubt, road
blocks under any description or guise remain banned across the
country and any officer found to be contravening this order will be
held liable and dealt with firmly.

“The society has evolved. As law enforcement operatives, we must
align our policing strategies to this societal dynamics,
particularly, at this time that our policing functions are being
built in the community policing model in which the citizen’s
interests are prioritized.

“Road blocks as a policing model is becoming obsolete and
unacceptable, hence we are working towards enhancing our
intelligence-led and technology-driven policing capability as well
as strengthening the ‘Safer Highway Motorized Patrol Scheme as an
alternative to road blocks.

“Therefore you are tasked to ensure that deployments within your
command are reviewed and your operations aligned to this new
policing approach which discourages the disposition to limiting the
liberty of the citizens through road blocks which are known to be
avenues for corrupt tendencies and other vices that widens the
trust gap between the citizens and the police”.

As June 12 commemoration of Democracy Day approaches, the
Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has directed
Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of
Police in states and FCT to deal firmly with any person or group
who may want to take advantage of the event to threaten internal
security order.

Speaking during a meeting with strategic commanders of the
Nigerian Police Force in Abuja, the IGP urged them to remain civil
with law abiding citizens during the Democracy Day celebration.

“The June 12 Democracy Day is days away. We are currently
reviewing the security situation, with a view to ensuring a
hitch-free exercise.

‘’Details of this will form part of our discussion. I must,
however, remind you all of the need to remain civil with law
abiding citizens, but firm with any person or group that may wish
to take advantage of the event to threaten our internal security
order,’’ he said.

Expressing dismay that most Command Commissioners of Police
‘still allow their officers to unnecessarily impound vehicles at
police stations, the IGP said: “Police facilities are not junkyards
and must not be turned to one. Indeed, such acts create
vulnerabilities that often engender attacks on our facilities.

“Accordingly, I task you to return to your commands and
undertake a major operation to clear all such indiscriminately
impounded vehicles off your stations.

‘’The compliance to this directive shall be confirmed in the
course of my on-going tours to your command and any departmental
head, zonal commander, commissioner of police or unit head that is
found wanting will be dealt with.

“I have also received reports of abuses associated with the use
of SPY plate numbers and tainted glasses. Accordingly, henceforth
the issuance of SPY plate numbers and tainted glasses permits are
hereby suspended.

‘’The existing authorizations are being reviewed and a protocol
to regulate the issuance of such permits will be evolved.

“An emerging trend in which some motorists cover their plate
numbers has also been noticed across the country. This practice
inhibits our law enforcement operations and hence, is intolerable.
Consequently, commissioners of Police are tasked to as part of
their operations, to arrest any motorist involved in this act.

“Furthermore, I have been receiving reports that some
Commissioners of Police are still allowing the mounting of road
blocks in their jurisdictions. For the avoidance of doubt, road
blocks under any description or guise remain banned across the
country and any officer found to be contravening this order will be
held liable and dealt with firmly.

“The society has evolved. As law enforcement operatives, we must
align our policing strategies to this societal dynamics,
particularly, at this time that our policing functions are being
built in the community policing model in which the citizen’s
interests are prioritized.

“Road blocks as a policing model is becoming obsolete and
unacceptable, hence we are working towards enhancing our
intelligence-led and technology-driven policing capability as well
as strengthening the ‘Safer Highway Motorized Patrol Scheme as an
alternative to road blocks.

“Therefore you are tasked to ensure that deployments within your
command are reviewed and your operations aligned to this new
policing approach which discourages the disposition to limiting the
liberty of the citizens through road blocks which are known to be
avenues for corrupt tendencies and other vices that widens the
trust gap between the citizens and the police”.