Lagos police Commissioner condemns indiscipline among policemen in Lagos
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, has condemned the increasing rate of gross misconduct amongst officers and men of the State Police Command.
Owoseni, who expressed his displeasure with the lack of discipline expressed by some police men noted that the command will no longer condone any uncivilized activity by Policemen in the state.
Speaking at a seminar centred on the use of force, organised by the Command for all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and journalists held at the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) hall, Oduduwa, Ikeja, Owoseni declared that any police officer who was not willing to abide by the tenets of democratic policing as stressed by the Inspector General information of Police should get a transfer out to f the command as henceforth any act if irresponsibility will not be handled with kids glove.
Referring to the DPO who allegedly shot an innocent member of the public to death at Ijeshatedo, the state police boss maintained it was time to have a paradigm shift in line with modern practice.
According to him, “it costs me much pain whenever I have to go and apologise for what I didn’t do or what the IGP didn’t do. Especially when it has to do with the families of those unjustly killed by the police.
“We talk to you regularly but none of you have convinced me that you have been talking to your men. What is wrong in organizing seminar like this for your men to sensitize them.
“This is because I spend most of my time cleaning up the mess you have created. If you know the heat is too much for you in Lagos, you can apply for transfer.
“Some of you just sit in your office thinking of how to make filthy money or invade people’s privacy all in the name of getting internet fraudsters.
“Money earned from filthy means will be spent on sickness and if spent on building house, it will collapse.
“Imbibe the culture of democratic policing. The more the country knows we are irresponsible, the more the people will clamor to do away with us.
“How can you claim to be friend of the people but terrorize them everyday? ” He asked.
“If there is any act of indiscipline within your jurisdiction, don’t let me come for you, just call the Deputy Commissioner of Police that you are coming for redeployment.
“I cannot continue to shoulder your responsibility. We may not be able to do enough for you but pls, be responsible with this job.” he advised.
He added that, the principles of caution, legality, accountability and necessity should be applied in the use of force.
Owoseni further called on policemen in the state to see themselves as spiritual leaders who should lead by examples, especially in relation to their dealings with members of the public. He also urged the Area Commanders and DPO’s to make it their responsibility to correct any form of indiscipline amongst their men.
