Operatives attached to the X-Squad Department of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police, Onikan Lagos, have arrested two dismissed policemen for alleged impersonation and use of police uniform/accoutrements to harass and extort innocent Nigerians.
The suspects were said to be in the habit of driving commercial vehicles while also dressed in police uniform at various locations within Lagos.
The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said that following the directive from the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in the Zone, Abdulmajid Ali, operatives of the X-Squad, who were on routine patrol within Lagos and led by Superintendent Akinyide Alabi, arrested one Joseph Okoya, 46,at Abule Ado Bus Stop, along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, while driving a commercial bus with registration number XC 755 LSR in police uniform.
Adejobi, a superintendent of police, also said the same team arrested one Yohanna Bitrus, 35, at the Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, while fully dressed in a Mobile Police Uniform and performing illegal police duties.
He added that investigations had revealed that both Okoya and Bitrus were dismissed from the police force in 2010 and 2015, respectively, over disciplinary offences.
Items recovered from the two suspects included police uniforms, accoutrements, ID cards, piles of petitions and statement forms, letter heads and some other incriminating documents.
The zonal PPRO said, “The arrest was in connection with the moves by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Abdilmajid Ali, to bring sanity to police activities in the command and make sure that the image of the Nigeria Police is protected.
“It will be recalled that the police boss, on assumption of duty in Lagos on 1st of August,2016, had vowed to sustain his fight against unethical, inappropriate and illegal conduct of police personnel within his command and promote the Inspector-General of Police’s principles of modern and conventional policing in Nigeria.
“The suspects, who have confessed to using police uniform to perpetrate many illegal acts, will be charged to Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos on Wednesday for Impersonation and unlawful possession of Police accoutrements.”
The one 2 Command spokesman added that the AIG in charge of the zone had advised the general public to be wary of unscrupulous elements like the suspects, who had been denting the image of the force and engaging in criminal acts in the society.
AIG Ali, he further said, urged the general public to always expose the illegal activities of police personnel they encountered.
