Nigeria Police Force has received about 431, complaints from citizens against its personnel in the last three months between June and August 2022, out of which 304 had been resolved with 81 punishments awarded to erring police officers.
These were contained in a document prepared by the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, while explaining the efforts of his ministry and the NPF at ensuring discipline among police officers.
In the document it reads “Recently, attention has been placed on the need for professionalism and adherence to extant laws by police officers in the discharge of their lawful duties.
“This has prompted the need to look into the various complaints against police action via social media, and the meting out of sanctions on violators of laws regulating the conduct of police officers.
“In the past three months, a total of 431 complaints against police actions have been received. 304 of these complaints have been resolved with 81 punishments awarded to erring police officers and men.
“Seven of these police officers have been dismissed for severe infractions.
“Meanwhile, 40 officers are undergoing internal disciplinary processes to determine their innocence or otherwise.”
Apart from sanctions, the minister also said the PPCC in 2021 embarked on sensitisation campaigns targeted at the six geo-political zones, adding that the South-West, South-South, North-Central and North-West, had been covered while that for the North-East was slated to hold on September 9 in Bauchi.
Recall that in July, the Police Fo dismissed a former Police Inspector, Richard Gele, caught in a viral video dignifying and justifying extortion of members of the public and official corruption which trended from July 25, 2022.
The former Inspector, with AP/No. 188547, was until his dismissal, attached to Police Mobile Force 77 Squadron, Okene, Kogi State, and deployed to the Itobe–Anyigba Road for the safety of road users and commuters. This was the route where the incident occurred.
The dismissed Inspector, who hails from Benue State, was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force in September, 2000.
The officer has been de-kitted and handed over to the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State, for further necessary action.
