The acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has urged policemen to shun extortion and other corrupt acts.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Egbetokun stated this while addressing officers and men of the Kano State Police Command on Friday.
Egbetokun told the policemen that shunning extortion and other corrupt acts will help to enhance the public image of the force.
“I used to tell my officers to stop extortion, the police job is a very good job. It is the best job in the world. It is a job that when you do it very well, you get prayers from people.
“It is also a job that you will do badly and get the opposite of prayers. So it is you the policeman that will determine what you want.
“If you want prayers, you will get enough prayers in this job. And if you want the opposite of prayers you are going to get it too. So, be mindful of that fact,” he said.
Egbetokun told the police officers that God loved the police and was looking for a policeman to bless.
“Some of you will have sent away angels that God have sent to you to bless you with your wickedness.
“The moment you are engaging in corruption, you are telling God that don’t worry about me I can bless myself, and God will not bother about you.
“But if you do your job with the fear of God, God will single you out for blessing,” Egbetokun said.
Egbetokun disclosed that the Force CID would be reorganised such that only qualified and competent officers would function in the department as well as state commands.
“Henceforth, only officers who can inspire public confidence will be given sensitive duty posts, such as Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders and DPOs. If you cannot inspire public confidence you will not merit such positions.
“We want competence, we want honesty, we want integrity. That is the only way we can inspire public confidence.
“We want the support of members of the public. We cannot be calling for support when we also are not showing transparency; we’re not showing competence and we are not showing capability.
“We must show capacity. We must show integrity. We must show the members of the public that we can be trusted. We are the lead agency in internal security. We have to demonstrate this.
“We must show commitment to professionalism. We must improve our relationship with members of the public. We must stop corruption and extortion in our system. It doesn’t pay us.
“Those who have been engaging in extortion, I want to ask you, how has extortion improved your quality of life?” he asked.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Hussaini Gumel, said over 150 criminals were arrested in different parts of the state.
He said that already a comprehensive security network had been worked out to ensure the arrest and prosecution of criminal elements in the state.
NAN
