Police harassment is rife in Nigeria
The Officer-in-Charge, Legal Department, State Criminal Investigation Department, Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Jacob, has described as illegal the torture of suspects by policemen.
Popogbe, who spoke at the monthly lecture organized by the command in Abeokuta on Friday, also urged policemen to read widely, to equip them with current information on cases that might be assigned to them to handle.
The lawyer, an assistant superintendent of police, spoke on the topic “Arrest, Detention, Investigation and Prosecution.”
He advised the police to adhere to the provisions of the law in arresting suspects and carrying out investigations.
He stressed that divisional police officers must “personally supervise their men” to make sure that the fundamental human rights of suspects were not violated.
Popogbe said, “Any policeman, who acts outside the provisions of the law, is on his own and will face the music when the time comes.
“As part of the reform agenda going on in the police, you must be more civil while discharging your duties, particularly to avoid torture, while interrogating suspects. You have to pursue investigation devoid of extortion or corruption in its totality.”