By Christopher Oji, Lagos and Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Police Command has arrested 13 of its personnel for alleged indecent dressing in Port Harcourt.
The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Olatunji Disu, disclosed this yesterday ,saying that the 13 officers were arrested during patrol by the Monitoring unit in various part of the city.
The CP said the arrest was part of an ongoing effort to eradicate indecent dressing by officers of the command.
Disu also revealed that the head of the Units or Divisions where the arrested Police officers are serving would be vicariously liable too, for the personel’s action, adding that the arrested officers have been detained.
Meanwhile, CP Disu has assured that the killing of Superintendent of Police, SP Bako Angbashim, late Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada Police Division will not be swept under the carpet.
SP Angbashim was killed by suspected Iceland cult members led by Gift David aka 2Baba.
Disu gave the assurance in a radio programme organized by the Force Public Relations department in Abuja which was monitored in Port Harcourt on Saturday. He said he was overwhelmed by the concern shown by members of the public on the of killing of the DPO.
He disclosed that he was in talks with stakeholders in Ahoada and also getting advice from them.
On his objective for the command, Disu said his objective was to have Police officers that are effective and friendly.
He said: “As Police, we cannot succeed without cooperation, partnership from members of the public.
“I have started fostering partnership between the Police and members of the public. I had meeting twice with traffic section of the Police to remind them that they must be civil in their dealings with members of the public.
“I want to work with members of the public so they can trust us and give us information.“
On security threats associated with end of year, December, CP Disu said the command was aware that there tends to be increase in crime by persons who did not work from beginning of the year, but want to make money by all means.
He said security measures were in place to counter any security challenge that may arise during the period.
He explained that all the road coming in and out of the command have adequate Police personnel on it, providing adequate security.
He also revealed that the Police were embarking on meaningful raid of known black spots and have also deployed plain clothes detectives to gather intelligence.
He explained that Police officers on routine patrol intercepted a tinted vehicle with four men inside.
He said on approaching the vehicle tactically, they came out and ran away while the Policemen searched the vehicle, recovered fully loaded AK 47 rifle and also impounded the car.
On effective monitoring of his personnel to curtail human rights abuse, CP Disu explained that he just changed the person in charge of CP X-Squad.
He also urged members of the public to bring their complaints about his officers to him through dedicated lines as it would be promptly addressed.
Disu added that if members of the public do not report erring members of the Police command, he would think everything is okay and he will not be aware.
On the complaints on issue of cultism raised by a caller from Bori axis in Khana LGA, the Police Chief stated that he would call the officer incharge of Anti- Cultism to discuss with them to ensure they do what is right.