Ebonyi state Police command Tuesday ordered the release of inmates with bail able offenses and warned all divisions against unwarranted arrest and detention of suspects.
CP Awosola Awotinde gave the instruction in a press statement signed by the commands spokesman, DSP Loveth Odah.
He said the instruction was one of the measures put in place to prevent spread of CVID-19 among the inmates in the police cell and among the officers.
The statement reads: “Corona virus has been a pandemic disease ravaging the globe since its outbreak. As a measure to control its spread in Nigeria, the federal and various state governments, including Ebonyi state government, have imposed social restriction orders, while the Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Mohammed Adamu has ordered the strict enforcement of such legitimate orders given by various levels of government and warned against unnecessary arrest and detention of suspects.
“In light of the above, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi state command, CP Awosola Awotinde, admonished the good people of Ebonyi state to willingly adhere to the legitimate orders and measures aimed at controlling the spread of the virus in the state.
It also directed all area commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Heads of Tactical/Operational Units of the command to ensure the strict enforcement of the social restriction orders and other legitimate directives from the federal and Ebonyi state governments.
“Furthermore, the Commissioner of Police, while enjoining officers and men of the command to observe personal safety measures, has directed them to stop forthwith any form of unwarranted arrest and detention of suspects in Police cells within the command. He also ordered the immediate release on bail of suspects who might have been detained for offences considered to be bail able.
“In line with this, suspects arrested for serious offences such as murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape/defilement and other capital offences, must be thoroughly screened before being taken into Police custody to avoid the spread of the virus.”
