The Nigeria Police Force has detained an officer caught on tape demanding bribe from a traffic offender, in a rare display of prompt disciplinary action.
The police made the announcement in a Facebook post on Tuesday. The police said the erring officer, whose video clip has since gone viral in Nigeria social media space, is awaiting an “orderly room trial;” the Nigeria Police version of court.
The police admitted the officer is a sergeant attached to the Lagos State Command Motor Traffic Division.
“The Inspector General of Police IGP MD Abubakar has directed the Commissioner of Police Lagos State to ensure that the orderly room trial is concluded in record time,” the post on Facebook said.
Police officers are considered the most corrupt public officials in Nigeria. Cases of extortion by the officers are so commonplace that most citizens consider it the norm.
The Nigeria police is also notorious for harrasments, framing citizens, extrajudicial killings, and other forms of abuses.
Although police misconduct is a common knowledge among Nigerians, the spread of smartphones has aided citizens to report some abuse cases to the public.
In the last one month, at least two video clips of police officers misusing their positions went viral. In one instance, an officer, a personal assistant of the River State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, was seen manhandling a Rivers lawmaker who had caused chaos in the Assembly.
The IGP, however, assured Nigerians of zero tolerance to any form of corrupt practices involving any police officer. The police have introduced an email, policemonitor@npf.gov.ng, where they promise confidentiality for citizens reporting police misconduct.
Culled from Osun Defender
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