Olusegun Ariyo
The office of the Inspector General of Police has raised an alarm over the fraudulent use of the IG’s office by some police personnel to extort members of the public.
The revelation was made through a press statement issued from the desk of the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who raised the alarm about the abuse of the Inspector General’s office.
He stated that the Force is concerned about the persistent unprofessional conduct of a few police officers, which undermines the standards and reputation of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Force Public Relations Officer expressed that despite repeated warnings and disciplinary actions taken against those who have been exposed, some officers are still engaging in shameful acts that erode public trust.
Adejobi stated that it has become more alarming that some personnel fraudulently use the name and office of the Inspector General of Police to perpetrate illegal acts.
“The intention behind this tactic is to intimidate victims into believing that the IGP is aware of and approves their illegal activities. As a result, victims are often deterred from reporting these incidents to higher authorities.
“We urge members of the public to report any misconduct by police officers to their superiors, the Heads of the Complaint Response Units (CRU) in their states, or the Commissioner of Police in the state. Contact information for the CRU in all states has been published previously,” he announced.
Following the development, ACP Adejobi advised members of the public to exercise caution when approached by officers or individuals claiming connections with the IGP or any senior officer for influence or favour.
He also urged members of the public to immediately report such cases to the Nigeria Police Force via the following:
DCP Akin Fakorede, Head, IGP Monitoring Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja – 08184077076
ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja – 08037168147
CSP Taiwo Oyewale, Head, IGP Special Investigation Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja – 08069318238
SP Sherriff Lawal, ADC (Aide-de-Camp) to the IGP – 08094712605.
“The Nigeria Police Force assures all Nigerians of its commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. We encourage the public to collaborate with us by reporting any suspicious activities to ensure that justice and fairness prevail at all times,” he stated.
