Fides Media Living the Faith
. . . Moves against One Chance Vehicle Crime
By Ikeugonna Eleke
Police men in Anambra State who insist on extorting money from motorists in the state may just find themselves in the unemployment market. This follow the warning by the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura, to police personnel in the state to shun bribery or get the boot, reports Ikeugonna Eleke.
He warned that any police personnel caught taking bribe would be dismissed from the force.
The CP stated this in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Muhammed, last Wednesday.
Dandaura also enjoined police officers in the state to be civil to members of the public in accordance with international best practices.
The statement read in part, ‘In order to enhance people-oriented policing and effective service delivery in Anambra State, the Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura, has summoned all officers and men attached to Safer/Federal Highway Patrols in the Command and addressed them at the State Command headquarters Awka.
‘The CP while addressing the officers urged them to be more professional, proactive, firm but civil to members of the Public when discharging their duties in accordance with internationally acceptable best practices.
‘The CP also warned them against any form of extortion and corrupt practices, stating that any officer found wanting would face severe disciplinary action which might include outright dismissal from the force.’
The statement said the CP had tasked the police officers to take special steps to sanitize the Onitsha axis of the state of hoodlums and bandits that had made life unbearable in the area.
The statement added, ‘The CP further directed that the Patrol teams be deployed to Onitsha for special operations in order to sanitize the area of armed banditry such as ”One chance and hand bag” snatching syndicates particularly at the Head Bridge and Upper Iweka axis in Onitsha.’
Fides reports that a day after the warning, the police in the Onitsha area of the state appeared to have responded to the charge by the commissioner as they were seen inspecting vehicles but refraining from asking for bribe. The question however remains if it will last, especially as the police still demand money for bail despite repeated claims by them that bail is free.
Additional report from Jude Atupulazi.