Idris who gave the directive Tuesday at the Lagos Police Command headquarters Ikeja on Tuesday, said the directive became imperative in order to avoid accidental discharge and killing of innocent persons.
Represented at the occasion by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Finance and Administration, Foluso Adebanjo, the IGP warned that the heads of the unit or department where an incident of accidental discharge occurred will be head responsible.
Adebanjo said he was assigned by the IGP to address officers and men, including members of the Eminent Peoples Forum ( EPF) in the South West geo political zone on the need for effective partnership with the public and strengthening the existing peace and security in the region.
The police boss warned that the force was not ready to allow the lost of any innocent soul in the hands of its operatives on mere excuses of accidental discharge, adding anyone who allow such to happen will be subjected to an orderly room trial, dismissed and charged to court under 24 hours for prosecution.
His words, “ You have to look at the psychological condition of you officers and men before given them arms in order to avoid accidental discharge, you have to take note of the Force order 237 on how and when to use your arms. In the case that an accidental discharge happens, you will be held responsible, while the officer involved will be made to face orderly room trial, dismissed and charged to court under 24 hours for prosecution”.
Idris also implored the cops to have attitudinal change and discharge their duties conscientiously with the fear of God, pointing out that some of their activities were not in compliance with best practices.
He further warned that suspects must not be detained beyond 24 hours except in case of kidnapping or heinous crimes.
“You should do our work conscientiously with the fear of God, our attitude to members of the public must change. We must be doing the right things, some of the things we are doing are good, but they are not the best. Don’t see everybody as criminal until it is proved by the court, don’t be a law breaker, detention of suspects must not be more than 24 hours except in cases of kidnapping or heinous crimes”, Idris emphasized.
While speaking on the plans to boost the morale of the cops, the police boss disclosed that the management is currently negotiating with developers to build houses in efforts to ensure that every policeman becomes a house owner.
He also added that plans are afoot to ensure that the medical and insurance benefits of the cops are improved upon, just as he noted that the police Force is under staffed.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner of Police Lagos Command Fatai Owoseni pointed out that the officers and men of the command have performed well in spite the challenges adding that they deserved to be commended.
Disclosing that the command has a staff strength of about 31,000 personnel, which appears large, Owoseni said there was the need for more personnel in the command because the demand for their services keep increasing by the day.
“As Lagos is small in size, it happens to be the most populated aside Kano. It is the gate way to the economic melting point of the nation
