Police commissioner warns officers towards illegal detention, abuse of energy

Commissioner of Police in Cross River state, Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, has warned officers towards illegal detention, abuse of powers and use of police amenities to settle civil disputes.

Ordue gave the warning throughout unscheduled visits to State Housing, Federal Housing, and Ikpa Omin police divisions in Calabar as a part of his ongoing Management by Walking About initiative.

“The police must not be used as an instrument of intimidation, harassment or debt recovery, particularly in matters involving contractual disagreements, land disputes, and other civil transactions,” he stated Monday.

He cautioned officers towards criminalising purely civil disputes, urging them to train sound skilled judgment in distinguishing civil issues from real legal allegations.

Ordue stated solely issues disclosing legal components ought to be subjected to legal investigation in accordance with the regulation.

The police commissioner, who inspected detention cells, safety amenities, and different operational infrastructure through the visits, additionally assessed the divisions’ preparedness, administrative processes, and compliance with established policing procedures.

He charged the officers accountable for the divisions to strengthen inner supervision, respect the basic rights of residents, and preserve correct documentation in dealing with arrests, investigations and detention.

Ordue reiterated that professionalism, accountability and respect for the rule of regulation stay non-negotiable requirements within the discharge of police duties.

He added that the Management by Walking About initiative was designed to bridge the hole between command-level management and operational realities by way of direct engagement with officers and firsthand evaluation of divisional actions.

The police chief assured residents that the command remained dedicated to defending lives and property, addressing safety considerations, and guaranteeing skilled, responsive, and accountable policing. (NAN)