The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has revealed that supervisory officers will be held responsible and face sanctions for unprofessional conduct by their subordinates.
Adejobi disclosed this in response to a post on X.com on Tuesday by a user, #Silva_ojonimi, who expressed frustration over policemen’s misconduct and the unexplained search of the phones of young men.
He wrote, “Let’s have at least a scapegoat. Searching phones on the road, or without being an exhibit in a case, is not allowed and unprofessional. Recalcitrant officers won’t allow us rest, but we need to expose them.”
When another user, #AsemotaJeremaiah, suggested the use of sting operations to expose corrupt officers, where young men could be hired to drive cars rigged with dash cams to capture evidence of extortion and misconduct, Adejobi replied, “We have a game to curb that.
“Heads and supervisory officers will be held responsible and sanctioned henceforth for the misdeeds and unprofessional conduct of their men.”
He added, “The IGP warned and pronounced it yesterday during the virtual conference with NPF strategic managers. It’s achievable and no going back.
“On Monday, at least some senior officers were dismissed while some reduced in rank upon our recommendations to the police service commission. The game has changed for good.”
The FPRO also pointed out that many victims of police misconduct hesitate to cooperate with authorities, sometimes even pleading for leniency toward erring officers.
He added, “However, many victims of this act only come on X or online to raise issues when they have failed to cooperate with the authority to deal with their cases. They betray us, compromise, and encourage the men to dwell in such with impunity.
“We have various experiences, and it’s disheartening that the victims even beg us to pardon the men for reasons known to them. For those who have done so in my office, know I turn down their pleas. Let’s take the bull by the horn and expose the bad ones.”