Imo State Police Commissioner, Muhammed Barde, has issued a directive to apprehend a police inspector captured on video assaulting a driver on a road in Owerri, the capital city of the state.
The incident has sparked responses from Nigerians, who have characterized it as a deplorable act of inhumanity directed at the victim.
In response to the demand for the apprehension of the officer involved, Barde promptly issued an order for the immediate arrest of the offending policeman.
In a statement released by the State’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Henry Okoye, on Wednesday, the Commissioner of Police (CP) expressed strong disapproval of the unbecoming conduct displayed by the police officer. The CP directed that the officer in question be swiftly identified and taken into custody, emphasizing that the officer’s behavior was not tolerable.
The statement read:
”The attention of Imo State Police Command has been drawn to a viral video with a caption; ”Nigeria Police can Never be Your Friend Especially the Ones in Owerri”, where a Police Inspector alleged to be serving in Imo State was seen forcefully removing the cap of a young man and slapping him severally on his face.
“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Muhammed Ahmed Barde condemns this irritating act in totality as it highly contradicts the professional ethics and code of conduct of the Force. The Nigeria Police Force is a highly disciplined organization and will never tolerate the misconduct of the officer seen in the video.
“To this effect, the CP has mandated his Monitoring Team to investigate and identify the officer for necessary disciplinary action. More so, the victim is encouraged to call the PPRO Imo on 08148024755 or come to the Police Public Relations Department Owerri and make his complaint.”
Providing an update a few hours later on the same Wednesday, the police spokesperson revealed that the implicated police inspector had been recognized and apprehended. Okoye conveyed that the officer was presently undergoing a trial within the confines of an Orderly Room.
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The police spokesman added:
“The recalcitrant Inspector has been identified, he is currently undergoing orderly room trial after which necessary disciplinary action will be taken against him.”