It is not unusual to hear news of gunhappy policemen killing civilians but this is about to stop as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase, on Thursday, warned police officers to exercise high sense of caution in handling guns while dealing with unarmed civilians.
Speaking in Abeokuta while addressing policemen at the state police headquarters in Eleweeran, Arase warned that any policeman who shoots an unarmed member of the public would be jailed.
“Shoot a civilian, go to jail,” Arase warned. According to him, any police officer who engaged in indiscriminate shooting should be arraigned within 24 hours of his arrest.
Arase also warned police commissioners not to send officers with psychological challenges on assignments.
He also warned police officers, particularly those in convoy, to stop using horse whips on members of the public, saying, “Nigerians are not animals.”
Speaking further, he announced that the Police authorities had concluded plans to construct 25,000 post retirement housing estates for its officers across the country. He, therefore, directed the state Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali to look for suitable titled landed property where such estate could be built in the state.
He reiterated his determination to improve the welfare of men and officers of the force.
