Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph G. Mukan, has expressed worry over the incessant misuse of firearms by police officers under the command.
This followed a public outcry over the killing of over five persons in several parts of Port Harcourt this month by police officers.
The CP disclosed this during a meeting with Divisional Police Officers and Heads of Tactical Units, including Inspectors and Rank and File of the Command.
Addressing the officers, the CP lamented the incessant cases of unjustifiable use of firearms by personnel, in flagrant violation of Force Order 237 and warned respective supervising authorities, as a matter of urgency, to closely monitor their activities and therefore stem the tide or risk Removal and Query.
The CP who was visibly worried by the development, maintained that he will no longer tolerate these wanton acts of recklessness on the part of Police personnel and promised to re-strategize with a view to putting potent measures in place that will ultimately curtail and contain the embarrassing trend.
According to a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Nnamdi Omoni, the CP also directed the Police Medical Team to embark on regular visits to Police Formations to conduct psychological evaluation on personnel and possibly fish out those addicted to alcohol and other abused substances.
“The CP charged all HODs/DPOs to fortify their Stations/Formations and embark on regular raids of criminal hideouts and blackspots across the Command, while assuring residents of the State that the Christmas and New year celebrations will be carried out peacefully and seamlessly, noting that adequate measures have been out in place to forestall acts capable of undermining the peace of the State.
“In the same vein, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, is hereby appealing to the general public to increase their security consciousness and report all suspicious characters/movements, including all acts of extortion and professional misconduct by the Police to the following hotlines for appropriate disciplinary action”
