The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has warned police officers against meddling in civil disputes.

The police chief noted that the Nigeria Police Force will not tolerate its officers handling property, family, matrimonial, debt, landlord/tenants and neighbours disputes already “pending in court.”

Mr Baba stated this during a meeting with strategic police managers, held on Monday in Abuja.

The police chief said, “Another critical issue to deliberate upon at this meeting is the menace of criminalising civil matters by police officers.”

He added that police officers involved in any form of malpractice will be faced with severe disciplinary actions and sanctions.

Mr Baba warned officers against violation of social media policy, adding that police officers found “disobeying the lawful orders will have themselves to be blamed.”

“It is the same reason why I forbid transferring cases from lower Commands to higher ones indiscriminately. I assure you that going forward, the Force Management Team under my leadership will be viewing such professional infractions with more severe disciplinary actions and sanctions such that the burden of garnishee orders will rest solely on the individuals involved in such malpractices,” he said.

“You are hereby warned to instil this discipline in your officers and men so that you will not be held vicariously liable as well.

“In the same vein, the leadership of the Force will not condone continuous violation of any of the Nigeria Police Force policy or regulations, especially the Social Media Policy of the Force and the oath of secrecy in handling the confidentiality of our correspondences.

“In your own interest and for the good benefit of the organisation, you are all to make this a subject of lecture over and over again to your officers and men. Anyone caught in the act of disobeying the lawful orders will have themselves to be blamed.”