Ringim Warns Policemen Against Extortion

The IGP, Hafiz Ringim, has warned police investigators to desist from extorting the public during investigations.

Ringim gave the warning on Monday in Abuja at the opening of a one-day meeting with deputy and assistant commissioners of police in charge of zonal and state criminal investigation departments.

The IGP, who described complaints against crime investigators as alarming, stressed that those found wanting at the end of ongoing investigations would be dismissed.

Ringim was dismayed by the conduct of some police officers who, he said, had also been accused of distorting facts in exchange for money.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was the first of its kind since Ringim assumed office.

According to him, the performance of police crime investigating officers is below the expectations of the public.

“We have received series of complaints against the conduct of some of our officers and these complaints border largely on non-performance

“Some of the officers are accused of demanding for money to investigate a case while others are accused of distorting vital facts in exchange for money.”

The IGP said that they would investigate the issues, adding that if they were found to be true, the officers involved would be disciplined.

Ringim challenged officers in charge of the zonal and state criminal investigation departments to look inward to correct the arbitrariness of some of their men.

He said that the situation was worrisome because it could be responsible for the declining public confidence in the police force and could further smear its image.

On the release of suspects on bail, the IGP said that the laws were clear and that officers must adhere strictly to lay down procedures, emphasising that bail was free.

He said that the monitoring team under his office would be strengthened to monitor the activities of officers in order to check the excesses of some of them.

Ringim urged the public to be prepared to come forward whenever they were called upon to help in prosecuting cases against corrupt police officers.

He assured the public that the current police administration would address all complaints of extortion and general misconduct by police officers.