Osun: Protect Rights Of Citizens – DIG Alabi Urges Police Officers

Police officers and men in the Osun State Command have been charged to always serve and protect the rights of the people with respect due to them.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police, South West geopolitical Zone, Silvester Abiodun Alabi, gave the charge on Thursday, during an official visit to Osun state.

Alabi who said protection of human rights is part of their responsibility as police called on the personnel to always uphold and protect the rights of the citizens.

He charged them to be friendly with people and comply with the rule of law just as he urged them maintain high level of professionalism during the course of their duties.

He warned that the police high command will not condone any act of abuse of the rights of the people or impunity by policemen, stressing that the nobody above the law.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police said: “We have to change the negative narrative about the force. The narrative must change, the perception must be changed and the only way to change the narrative from the mind of the general public is for us to change bad attitudes and do away from corruption.

“Officers, I can assure you that it will pay you better to be a man of integrity than for people to see you as a corrupt officer. By the time you become people friendly you earn the truth and confidence of the members of the public.

“You must uphold the human rights of the citizens, as it is in the Police Act 2020, and protect human rights as part of our activities.

“You will become people-friendly when you comply with the rule of law.

“Somebody has not committed an offense and arrested him by proxy because his brother has committed an offense against the administration criminal justice 2015 has amended. Instead of arresting his/her mother or father and saying I want to use him as a soft target to the main target, there is nothing like that go to a main target and stop harassing the soft target as the main target who has not committed any offense.

“The question I will ask you is what is the man doing for you in the cell for over-detaining somebody? Somebody has been arrested for an offense committed, is it a bailable offense? yes if it is a bailable offence release him on bail to a reliable surety and continue with your investigation. But some of us are unrepentant to enjoy in victims’ pains unnecessarily. After 48 hours release the person on bail or charge him to court.