The Nigerian Consultative Forum (NCF) has lauded the Inspector-General of Police (IG) for his swift and prompt action in setting up of an investigative team to unravel the circumstances and involvement of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari and four other police officers in the current raging drug scandal.
They were however earlier indicted by both internal investigation of the police and the leadership of NIgerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
NCF in a statement in Abuja signed by its President Dede Uzor A Uzor and Secretary Mazi Udemadu Frank. Udemadu, said the proactiveness of the IGP in the matter showed that there is still hope for redemption of the shattered image of the police in the country which have been embroiled in high level corruption and other unethical practices.
NCF called on the IGP to extend the same eagerness to other departments of the NIgerian Police which have been enmeshed in endemic corruption.
The departments said the groups includes the State Criminal Investigation Departments
(SCIDs), the State Anti kidnapping Units, the State FIIBs, the Police Mobile units among special departments/units of the police.
The departments mentioned above according to NCF are known for corruptive tendencies with their criminal activities very glaring which they often celebrate.
NCF therefore asked IGP to embark on an aggressive surgical operation if he really wants to fight corrupt practices within the force.
“He should extend his anti-corruption battle to the State Police Commands, Area Commands and Police Divisions, stressing that some of the Commissioners of Police post officers on conditional extortive grounds and always subject them to either weekly or monthly returns or stand removed in the event of failure to meet up with their criminal and extortive demands.
Such senior police officers, the group said, should be meted with adequate punishment in line with the Police Act as amended and extant laws of Police Service Commission .
“These officers have grossly painted the image of the police in very bad colour”, warning that if the IGP want to be taken serious, he should extend his network of investigation to the above stated areas,Dede Uzor directed.
22nd Feb. 2022