The Lagos Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, reacted to a media report about an errant Divisional Police Officer by ordering the recall of the officer.
A statement on Friday by police spokesman, Chike Oti, said Edgal’s attention was drawn to a publication of the same day in PUNCH captioned “Power-drunk Lagos DPO leads team to mosque, raid adherents, others.”
The statement reads: “The reporter mentioned that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Pen Cinema Police Division, Lagos State, Harrison Nwabuisi, has been conducting raids during which he allegedly arrested innocent residents and extorted money from them. He further reported that the police operation took place on Wednesday, being the last day of the Sallah holiday, at Alimi Ogunyemi Street, in the Ifako Ijaiye area and mentioned one Sheriff Aranjure as a prime witness to the alleged extortion by the DPO.
“Sequel to the allegation, the CP has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, DCP Yetunde Longe, to investigate the officer and other ranks against whom the allegation was made. He equally directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, DCP Elkanah Ayuba, to recall the DPO to the Command Headquarters to allow unbiased investigation into the matter.
“The Command is therefore appealing to Mr. Sheriff Aranjure, said to be a vital and indeed other witnesses in the matter, to make themselves available to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, SCIID, Panti Yaba, to assist police investigation.
“While recognising the fact that raiding is a major crime-fighting strategy of the police, given that it enables proactive intervention into a budding problem, the CP however said, that it must be purposeful, corruption free and Intelligence driven.
“He therefore assures members of the public that if the allegation is true, any officer or men found culpable in the matter, would be appropriately sanctioned in accordance with the relevant sections of the Police Act.”
