The Nigeria Police Fore yesterday warned that henceforth erring police personnel who made the Force to incur a court order following cases of human rights violations would be made to pay for it from their wages.
The force particularly warned against indiscriminate arrest, long detention and extortion of suspects.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), zone 8, comprising Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti, states, Tanko Lawal, gave the warning while addressing officers and men of the Kwara state police command at the state police headquarters, Ilorin.
The AIG was in the state on tour of inspection of commands under his zone.
“We (Police) have had course to spend a so much on cases of garnishee orders. We have been warned; if you let the police incur garnishee, you will pay for it.”
The AIG, who admonished policemen to respect human rights of people by eschewing all forms of Illegal arrest and detention, said the “police don’t have to make arrest before they could investigate all cases.”
“There are cases that you don’t have to arrest before you investigate, you can do without arresting and gather all necessary facts for prosecution,” he said.
He acknowledged that investigations cannot be concluded within 24 hours time lag during suspects were supposed to be detained, the AIG said in such cases suspects should be granted bail or charged to court.
“In achieving this, every policeman should step up the culture of intelligence led policing by building confidence in members of the public and promote inter- agencies synergy with sister security agencies to succeed in fighting crimes.
“When you are good to members of the public that is when they will give you useful information.”
He charged officers and men of the police force to key into President Muhamadu Buhari’s policy of zero tolerance for corruption policy as well as that of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, or be arrested and thrown out of the service.
“The wind of change is blowing all over places, from the presidency to all facets of work and the Nigeria police cannot be an exception. If you are corrupt, you either think twice or you will be arrested and kicked out of the service.”