The Rule of Law Advocacy and Accountability Centre (RULAAC), a civil society organisation, has commended the Nigeria Police Force for punishing its officers for misconduct.

RULAAC executive director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, gave the commendation on Saturday in a statement.

Mr Nwanguma stated that inspector general of police Usman Baba’s tough stance against corrupt cops was commendable and pointed out that the police’s prioritising discipline and accountability was a reassurance to the public that it would not condone misconduct.

The police have dismissed no fewer than 12 corrupt cops in the last five months for misconduct, including assault, extortion, viewing people’s mobile phones, and plotting a police strike.

On August 12, police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi announced the dismissal of Opeyemi Kadiri for searching a commuter’s phone by the roadside, contrary to IGP Usman Baba’s directive.

Mr Adejobi said Mr Kadiri, with Force No. 509745, attached to the Dolphin Divisional Headquarters of the Lagos police command, was captured on August 3, following a video on his activity that went viral.

The spokesman also announced the dismissal of another officer caught in a video assaulting a man with a machete in the Ekori community of Cross River.

Mr Adejobi said the cop, Liyomo Okoi, a police constable with NPF No. 524503, was dismissed after facing an orderly room trial after being found guilty. He said his dismissal took effect on August 8.

In April, following the aborted strike planned by some policemen over poor salary structure, nine police officers were dismissed on the orders of the inspector general of police.

According to a signal issued by the police commissioner in charge of the Police Provost, the officers involved were two inspectors, five sergeants and two constables.

Mr Nwanguma, however, said the group would continue to point out the shortcomings of the police in terms of conduct and performance, stressing that they would equally acknowledge and commend them when they do good things as they witnessed in recent times.

He added that the annual budgetary allocations to the NPF were not enough to meet the needs of one zonal command, citing that as a reason police officers perform poorly.

Mr Nwanguma further mentioned that funds appropriated or donated to the Police Trust Fund to augment poor budgetary allocations, provide equipment, training and retraining and boost the welfare and morale of officers were not released to them as expected.

(NAN)