Lagos Police Commissioner warns officers against corrupt practices; Davido’s escorts detained for reckless shooting

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, has warned officers in the state against indiscipline and corrupt practices such as extortion and illegal stop-and-search of Lagosians.
Owoseni gave the warning while lecturing Lagos Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Operational Officers, including men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and other sectional heads on operational strategies to rid the state of criminals. 
While he also queried some erring officers and warned them against indiscipline/disobeying lawful order against all forms of police conducts, he emphasized that the duty of the police “is to protect lives and properties”.
He encouraged DPOs to nominate police personnel for the weekly training as this will help reduce the level of police misconduct.
Owoseni also warned Lagosians against jungle justice as anyone caught in the act would face the full wrath of the law.
Meanwhile, two police escorts of popular musician, David Adeleke (Davido), have been detained for reckless shooting.
A video in circulation on social media showed the two policemen allegedly shooting into the air on the street in a moving vehicle in Lagos.
The Head of Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit ( PCRRU), ACP Abayomi Shogunle, said that following complaints by members of the public, the case was immediately registered by the unit.
“On August 1, PCRRU was notified about a video in circulation on social media in which some men alleged to be policemen were seen shooting in the air on the street in a moving vehicle,” Shogunle said.
He said that the Commissioner of Police in charge of Police Mobile Force ( PMF ) at the Force Headquarters, had identified the men following the directive of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris.
Shogunle said that the incident happened on July 31 at 5 p.m. along the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road in Lagos.
He explained that the two policemen from the 20 Police Mobile Force Squadron were attached to a private security company, Infinity Security Company.
Shogunle said that Davido engaged them to provide escort for him to his house while returning from abroad.
“Along the way as seen in the video which has been confirmed from investigation, the two policemen involved started shooting into the air for no just cause.
“They have been identified and they have been in detention since then because investigation was conducted and after that, they have been tried in orderly room and punishment has been recommended.
“We are only waiting for the appropriate police authority to review the punishment then we will make the full details known to the public.
“One thing is clear that the conduct of those policemen as seen in that video is unacceptable, that is not part of what our officers should be engaged in.
“They are no longer involved in any duty where they will carry any weapon. They will be in detention until the process is over before they will be released.
“Investigation has shown that they have no justifiable reason to have expended or fire their weapons into the air,” he said.
Shogunle assured that officers dismissed for corruption would also be prosecuted in court in line with the Inspector-General of Police’s directive.
“Apart from dismissal, we are also going to see the prosecution of such unethical officers in the court of law, “he said.
The PCRRU was established by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in November 2015, with a mandate to receive and resolve cases of professional misconduct brought against its officers.