The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare
Moshood Jimoh, has issued a strong warning to members of the state task force,
stating that the unit could be disbanded if found guilty of violating citizens’
human rights.
The warning came on Saturday during a media briefing
at the police command headquarters in Ikeja, following public reactions to a
viral video showing the arrest of a traffic offender.
Addressing the controversy, Jimoh clarified that
preliminary findings did not indicate any form of abuse in the incident. He
explained that the suspect, who was arrested for driving against traffic, was
handled in line with due legal procedures.
According to him, the offender was promptly arraigned
before a mobile court where charges were read and bail was granted. However,
the individual was later remanded after failing to meet the bail conditions.
The police commissioner emphasized that the task force
plays a critical role in enforcing environmental and sanitation laws across
Lagos, especially in a city with a rapidly growing population.
To ensure professionalism, he revealed that task force
personnel have undergone retraining focused on human rights compliance and
ethical conduct.
“No officer is indispensable. If there is clear
evidence of human rights violations, I will not hesitate to dissolve the task
force and replace them,” Jimoh stated.
He also acknowledged the importance of social media in
exposing incidents and holding authorities accountable, but warned against the
spread of misinformation that could erode public trust.
Jimoh urged residents to remain law-abiding and
encouraged them to report any misconduct by officers, assuring that all
complaints would be properly investigated.
He concluded by stressing the need for balance in
policing, noting that maintaining law and order in a city as large as Lagos
requires both strict enforcement and respect for citizens’ rights.
Comments:
Leave a Reply