Lagos State police boss says anyone caught operating not wearing uniform will be sanctioned

LAGOS State police commissioner Edgal Imohimi has issued a stern warning to the men under his command that anyone caught carrying out operational duties in mufti from henceforth will be sanctioned.

As Nigeria grapples with its plethora of security challenges, the role of the police has come under scrutiny lately with the force described as being unprofessional. In numerous instances, police are known to commit criminal acts themselves like take bribes, extort motorists, shoot innocent members of the public and abuse their positions.

On several instances, members of the public have also been unable to identify policemen because they were not wearing their uniforms while on duty. Speaking at the third Stakeholders’ Security Meeting on Security Policing, organised by the Area D Command at Mushin in Lagos State with the theme Policing the Community by the Community, Mr Imohimi said changes are under way.

He revealed that two officers, who allegedly assaulted a lawyer last week in the Ikoyi area of Lagos, would be demoted in ranks for wearing plain clothes to effect the arrest of the legal practitioner. Mr Imohimi stated that only certain policemen were allowed to wear jackets with the inscriptions of their units on them.

Mr Imohimi added: “Henceforth, no policeman should carry out operational duties in Lagos in mufti without police uniform. The only units allowed to wear jackets with the inscription of his unit on it are the Anti Cultism Unit, Anti Kidnapping Unit, Raider and the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad.

“Every other policeman on operational duties must be in uniform. They will only be in mufti only if they are attached to the investigation unit of the command, as we don’t want any policeman to cause us any embarrassment.”