By Joe Udo
OWERRI (CONVERSEER) – The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, CP Aboki Danjuma, has issued a strong directive prohibiting officers under his command from engaging in unlawful phone searches, extortion, harassment, over-detention of suspects, and the use of unmarked vehicles for patrols.
In a press release signed by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, on Sunday, CP Danjuma warned that complaints of intimidation, harassment and extortion, especially against youths, would be thoroughly investigated, with offending officers sanctioned.
The Commissioner reiterated that tactical teams must not use shuttle buses or unmarked vehicles for patrols, stressing that such practices violate operational standards and have been linked to rights abuses.
On the treatment of suspects, CP Danjuma maintained that their rights are sacrosanct, adding that any breach of constitutional provisions or global best practices would not be tolerated. He emphasised that suspects must not be subjected to unlawful detention beyond stipulated timeframes.
“All Area Commanders, DPOs and Tactical Unit Commanders are directed to warn and supervise their personnel. Any officer found guilty of misconduct will face severe disciplinary action, while their commanders will be held vicariously liable,” the statement read.
The Imo Police Command assured residents of its commitment to professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police.
Members of the public were encouraged to report cases of extortion or misconduct directly to the Command’s X-Squad Unit or the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) through 08148024755 or 08134783532 for immediate action.
