Osamagbe Imadiyi
The Nigeria Police Force has denounced as “unprofessional and unethical” the behavior of its officers who were seen accepting money from a Chinese national in a widely shared video. Following the incident, which caused a great deal of online outrage, force headquarters decided to name the officers involved and start disciplinary action. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, signed a statement issued on Wednesday in which the police reiterated their commitment to maintaining public trust and professionalism.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Police Force has taken notice of a troubling video that has been circulating in the media that depicts police officers accepting cash from a Chinese national. The behavior displayed by the police officers in the video has been strongly denounced by the Force, which calls it unethical and unprofessional”.Adejobi reaffirmed that such conduct is against the Nigeria Police Force’s core values, ethics, and standards. “The Nigeria Police Force’s core values, ethics, and standards are not reflected in the officers’ actions. Such unprofessional behavior and other misconduct that erodes public confidence are not tolerated by the Force,” he stated.
He confirmed that the officers involved in the incident have been identified and are currently undergoing disciplinary action. Along with dealing with the misbehavior, the Force issued a warning to people and organizations that use police services, especially guards and escorts. Adejobi cautioned, “The Nigeria Police Force hereby cautions individuals and organizations privileged to the services of police personnel, particularly as escorts and guards or other specialized services, to desist from any act capable of degrading the integrity of its officers and bringing the Force to disrepute.”
