Date: 2017-12-19

The Kwara State Police command has called for evidence of allegation of extortion and harassment levelled against operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in the state, with assurance to investigate and bring culprits to book.

This came on the heels of a protest by some youths in Ilorin, the state capital last Tuesday, calling for the scrap of the unit.

Recall that the campaign, with the #EndSARS hashtag, trended on social media for several days penultimate week, with the organisers calling for a movement of the protest offline to engage with ordinary Nigerians. However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi in an interview with Pilot Crime over the weekend, said the command would not handled such cases with kid gloves if found to be genuine.

He also said any officer indicted for human rights abuses and professional misconduct would be sanctioned appropriately.

Okasanmi then called on members of the public with evidence to come out with it, saying it is against the rule of the Nigeria Police Force to be uncivil to innocent citizens.

He said: " I am not saying that some of our police officers are free from such allegations. Some of them could be involved in extortion but we can't act based on what people are saying because it's just allegations flying.

"I'm using this opportunity to inform members of the public that if any police unit demand money, you have the right not to give the officers, and if they insist you have the right to go to police headquarters to report the matter and see if police authority will take action on it or not. "And if the officer drags you to station based on the fact that you refused to give money, when you get there report the case. That's why we have provost and others like that monitoring activities of police officers.

"The command has made it clear that, the persons that give and the officer that take bribe will face the wrath of the law if caught in the act as they are liable to prosecution," the PPRO explained.

Okasanmi further said that it's against the law for men and officers of the Nigerian Police Force to invade privacy of members of the public, adding that it's wrong for police officers to be checking contents of phones, laptops and other personal items of innocent citizens.

"I have released a press statement to make people understand that police has no right to check their phones and if that happens it will be subjected to investigation. It is only if someone report and alleged that, his/her phone or laptop was stolen and eventually the suspect is arrested that police can check the phone to confirm the authenticity of the allegation," he further explained.

He, however, claimed that no one had reported case of extortion against men and officers of the command in recent time.

He said, "I can give you an example where a lady alleged that SARS officers molested her the command took action and the SARS officers involved were identified and punished.

"That's why the command has internal disciplinary department to deal with officers who violate the rules and regulations that establishes the command.

Okasanmi assured members of the public that the command will continue to ensure maximum security of their lives and property.