As many as eight police officers are set to be dismissed from the force. They will be dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force for extortion, extrajudicial killings and other unprofessional conducts in Imo State, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye has revealed.
Okoye also revealed that more than 20 other police officers and men are currently facing orderly room trial at the Command’s headquarters for various offences. The Police Public Relations Officer said the State Commissioner, Mohammed Barde, had between December 2022 and June, 2023 approved the dismissal of the eight erring police officers for involvement in various offences and unprofessional conduct.
Okoye who stated this on Wednesday, while featuring at Owerri-based radio program, People’s Assembly, adding that 80 suspected criminals, who committed offences ranging from conspiracy, armed robbery, murder and rape were arrested by operatives of the command within the period under review.
Okoye disclosed that the CP ordered their dismissal and orderly room trial because of their involvement in the crimes. He added that those facing trial would be sanctioned according to the outcome and gravity of offences.
He also said that, last week, about N350, 000 was recovered from a police officer, who allegedly extorted it from a citizen, hinting that the money was returned to the owner, while the police officer was detained and would be facing trial.
According to Okoye, the CP has set up a high powered investigation team to fish out criminals in all nooks and crannies of the state, urging the civil populace to cooperate with them. He also emphasized on the need for police/community relations and regular town hall meetings between the force and civil populace (youth leaders, religious, traditional rulers among others).
