BREAKING NEWS: 31 policemen dismissed for misconduct in 18 months

At least 31 policemen have been dismissed from service over various offences between April 2021 and October 2022, The PUNCH has learnt.

The offences included extra-judicial killings, extortion and brutality among others.

Our correspondent observed that most of the policemen dismissed were those on lower ranks.

On October 4, the Police Service Commission, at its 15th plenary, announced the dismissal of seven policemen over alleged gross misconduct.

Similarly, on October 13, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the recommendation for the dismissal of one Curtis Jack, who was accused of robbing a man and his brother of $5,000 and N1.3m in Lagos, had been approved.

Another Inspector Richard Gele was caught in a viral video dignifying and justifying the extortion of members of the public. Three days after the video trended, he was invited to the Force Headquarters in Abuja and de-kited on July 29.

On August 8, a police constable, Liyomo Okoi, who was captured in a viral video on July 31, 2022, where he was flogging a man with a machete, was also invited to the Force Headquarters where he was also de-kited.

On April 26, 2022, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, approved the dismissal of nine policemen over their alleged roles in the botched strike by the rank and file of the institution.

Those affected were two inspectors, five sergeants and two constables.

On March 10, 2022, the Nigeria Police dismissed two inspectors, Tahir Ali and Saidu Nadabo, both attached to the 53 Force Mobile Unit, Borno.

While Ali was dismissed for allegedly killing an Army Warrant Officer, Donatus Vokong, attached to ‘Operation Hadin Kai,’ Nadabo was dismissed for trafficking 4.5kg of Cannabis Sativa.

The Lagos State Police Command dismissed one Inspector Jonathan Kampani for allegedly killing one Jelili Bakare at Quinox Lounge, Sangotedo Area of Lagos State, on March 18, 2021.

On April 25, 2021, another policeman, Sgt Eze Aiwansoba, was dismissed for attempting to kill his friend, Joy Ndubueze, on April 12, 2021.

A policeman with the Osun Command, Adamu Garba, who shot and killed Saheed Olabomi in Osogbo, was also dismissed on August 13, 2021.

The Delta State Police Command dismissed two policemen, Felix Ebikabowei and Ndubuisi Abazie, on September 18, 2021, for assaulting a tricycle rider, Brodrick Omesan.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 13, Muri Musa, approved the dismissal of Inspector Edem Ebong on November 26, 2021, for allegedly killing five persons and injuring four others in Enugu.

The Ogun State Police Command on April 28, 2021, dismissed three officers for allegedly extorting the sum of N153,000 from a student of the Lagos State University, Sheriff Adedigba.

The dismissed officers were Inspector Sunday John, Sergeant Jimoh Asimiya, and Sergeant Solomon Adedapo.

Commenting on the development, a retired Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, described the dismissal of erring policemen as a means to sanitise the system.

He said, “Every organisation has its rules guiding the punishment of erring personnel. The police cannot send anybody to prison except when the person is charged to court but if you commit an offence, the police must act accordingly because they are responsible and must ensure officers work according to the rules.

“Otherwise, one black sheep would spoil the entire system. A law enforcement officer is not expected to break the law and when found culpable, it should be dealt with by the law.”