Police in Lagos have warned their officers against extortion, human rights violations, and incivility toward inhabitants of the state.
Abiodun Alabi, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, issued the warning on Tuesday during a familiarisation tour of Area G Headquarters in Ogba and Area H Headquarters in Ogudu.
He noted that the Police High Command has provided many welfare packages to all cadres of officers and has worked hard to guarantee that salaries have been raised.
Alabi emphasised the need of personnel reciprocating the gesture by carrying out their tasks in the most professional manner possible.
He insisted that no policeman must request money for bail, saying, “If any of my officers ask you money for bail, report to the highest authorities.”
The police commissioner also warned police personnel against asking for frivolous documents from motorists. “Asking for car clearing documents is not your duty, leave it to customs.”
On the issue of tax deductions on salary, he explained that the government has agreed with the top echelon of the force that all forms of deductions from the police personnel should be stopped.
Alabi promised to address some of the challenges in some divisions under the command such as logistics, office space and accommodations, shortage of manpower, and working tools faced, by some divisions.
He commended the efforts of residents, especially the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), the Community Development Associations (CDAs), and the traditional institutions in supporting the command to achieve its set objectives.
The police commissioner also asked divisional police officers in the state to continue to strengthen such relationships which he described as livewire in information gathering and effective policing in their respective areas of coverage.