Extortion next to armed robbery, says IGP Baba
The Inspector-General of Police Usman Baba, on Wednesday likened police officers extorting motorists to armed robbery, warning that the force under his control would not tolerate such demeaning actions.
Baba, made this disclosure at the Gombe Police command headquarters as part of his two-day familiarisation visit to the state.
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Recall that Baba recently dismissed three policemen following misconducts, which he said were against the principles guiding the institution’s existence.
He lamented why an officer would say the IGP was aware of their corrupt tendency, denying knowledge of extortion.
While Clarifying the reasons behind their dismissal, Baba said, “it’s (extortion) serious and next to armed robbery, and such act have no place in the police.
“Any policeman holding a gun and extorting people on the road is no different from armed robber and we cannot be having glorified armed robbers.”
Baba stressed on the need for the entrenchment of discipline, stressing that it was the bedrock of any organisation.
Baba noted that it was required for officer to show themselves needed respect especially as a regimented agency adding that the police has a big family.
He noted that punishment and rewards are two necessary things, adding that it was not in his interest to punish people.
“Discipline is the bedrock of the police, and the bedrock of other organisations that is why your hand is up when you see someone higher shoulder-wise not age. I’m not the oldest policeman here but I’m the number policeman,” Baba added.
He revealed that the social media embargo was geared at ending unauthorised information, to ensure coordination in the force.
Speaking earlier, Ishola Babaita explained the need for training and capacity building of officers, revealing that the command had embarked on a few geared towards improving the rank and file.
He said, “I wish to inform the Inspector General of Police that, the command has engaged in series of capacity building, local training for personnel of the Command, especially for the middle cadre and lower ranking officers.
“These include; Digital literacy and computer operational skills which was conducted in collaboration between the Command and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Northeast Zonal ICT Hub, Gombe. A total number of one hundred (100) officers and men serving in Gombe State Command benefitted from this skill acquisition.”
