3 of 50,840 Policemen found extorting are armed robbery suspect ― Kwara CP

Kwara State police commissioner, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, has said that any police officer on highways found engaging in any form of extortion while bearing fire arms has completed ingredients of armed robbery offence.

Addressing area commanders, divisional police officers among others in Ilorin on Tuesday, the Kwara state police boss said that any of such officers found guilty would be arrested, detained, tried and dismissed from the service.

The police boss frowned at the patrol officers allegedly involved in such act while performing their duties on the highways in the state.

The police commissioner, who spoke against the backdrop of the reported cases of police extortion on highway through searching personnal belongings of motorists especially mobile phones said that, “though, they have the responsibility to conduct stop and search but it is unethical to seize and start searching anyody’s mobile phones on the roads.

“The practice of searching the mobile phones of an individual on the road for evidence of internet fraud amounts to conducting roadside investigations”, he said, adding that, “such attitude has become a criminal offence if it ended in extortion or done with the intent to extort.

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“All policemen in this command especially patrol men are constantly being reminded that extorting while bearing fire arms completes the ingredients of the offence of armed robbery.

“Henceforth, any policeman found to be engaging in any form of extortion while armed on the highway will be arrested, detained, tried and if found guilty will be dismissed and charged with armed robbery”.

While emphasising the commitment of the police command to community policing, Egbetokun urged the Area commanders, divisional police officers and all officers to embrace the philosophy of community oriented policing.

He pointed out that the police will serve the community better if there is collaboration between the two.

“The gap between the police and community is often exploited by criminals to the disadvantage of citizens because criminals hardly operate where the police and community collaborate”, he said.

He, therefore, solicited more collaboration of the stakeholders and law abiding residents of the state with the police to stop activities of criminals.