Police boss rules suspects can only be held for 24 hours and bans carrying politicians bags

NEWLY-appointed inspector general of police Solomon Arase has issued a new directive barring policemen from detaining suspects for more than 24 hours adding that appropriate due diligence must also be observed before arrest warrants are issued.

 

Part of a renewed drive to make the Nigerian Police Force more professional, the directives are aimed at ending the image of the policeman as an ill-trained thug. Under the new regime, policemen posted to provide security for top government officials have also been banned from carrying their bags or converting themselves to domestic staff.

 

According to Mr Arase, over 36,599 lower rank policemen would be promoted in the near future from the rank of constable to inspector as part of the widescale restructuring. He added that those who failed promotion examinations in 2009 as well as those who were sick or were reduced in rank would benefit from the promotion if they performed well.

 

Mr Arase said to policemen: "We expect that you should no longer collect money from members of the public, you should be civil to the public and observe all forms of human right abuses. I sent out teams to all the zones and the report they have submitted to me is not encouraging.

 

"The idea of arresting people and dumping them should no longer arise, so we have stepped in to stop all observed anomalies. With regards to the misuse of firearms, Force Order 223 is there, so make sure you observe the provisions of this law, as you must change your attitude to the public because we need them to support us."

 

Among the other innovations the inspector general plans to introduce are training on alternative disputes resolution. He added that policemen should also not get involved in land and commercial matters and instead should advise the affected parties to go to the court.

 

"Before you invite anybody, ensure that you have investigated the issue and have with you concrete evidence before you invite or arrest anybody. Henceforth, only government officials are entitled to police protection and you should no longer carry people's bags, open their doors, man their gates or engage in any domestic chores for anybody.

 

"I have directed the commissioners' in-charge of airports to arrest you if they see you dragging your pistol with boxes or bags of anybody. On no account should we see anybody on our highways wearing slippers or shabbily dressed because if we see you, we are going to arrest you," Mr Arase added.

 

He pointed out that policemen have been given the authority to arrest anybody who is blowing a siren as their use has been banned.  In addition, he pointed out that policemen are not allowed to carry horse whips and must be civil during the course of their duties.