The Kogi State Government has said that police brutality against youths in the country must be kicked against.
This is as it commended the Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Police Force for fishing out officers who allegedly extorted an innocent passenger in the state.
Point News 247 reports that a viral video had shown the officers harassing a young man who they allegedly extorted the sum of N25,000 from by forcefully taking him to an ATM.
The video caught the attention of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, who ordered the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban, to begin investigations.
The IGP then called for calm, noting that at the end of the investigations, justice will be done to the victim of the incident, and police personnel found guilty brought to book.
On receiving the IGP’s order, the Kogi CP later announced that the officers in the video had been detained at the State Criminal Investigations Department.
Point News 247 reports that ASP Isah Barnabas, Inspector Ifediegwu Godwin, Sgt Emmanuel Ochima and CPL Umameh Mathias were named as the officers who physically assaulted the passenger.
In a statement the police said, “The ASP has been issued an official query while the three other junior officers are currently undergoing orderly room trial (Police internal disciplinary actions).”
The Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement on Sunday, revealed that the state will follow up on the case to ensure justice is served.
“As a Government, we are pleased with the swift intervention of the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban on the matter. We are aware the unprofessional officers have been identified, apprehended and would be tried immediately.
“As a Government led by young people, we believe Police brutality against the youth is a thing we must kick against in view of our recent history as a nation.
“The Government of Kogi State will follow up on this case to ensure justice is served and served adequately to signal a deterrent for possible future occurrence.
“Our nation will only thrive when the rights of the citizens are respected and protected. This is what the administration of Alh. Yahaya Bello stands for in Kogi State and his wish for Nigeria.
“We owe Nigerians a responsibility of protection and security as the centre of the nation.”