Nigeria Police Force
has confirmed the detention and trial of two of its personnel that recently
escorted popular musician, Davido, for reckless shooting.
A video in circulation
on social media showed two policemen allegedly shooting into the air on the
street in a moving vehicle in Lagos.
Head of Public
Complaints Rapid Response Unit ( PCRRU), ACP Abayomi Shogunle, told newsmen
that following complaints by members of the public, the case was immediately
registered by the unit.
“On August 1, PCRRU was
notified about a video in circulation on social media in which some men alleged
to be policemen were seen shooting in the air on the street in a moving
vehicle,” Shogunle said.
He noted that the
commissioner of police in charge of Police Mobile Force (PMF) at the Force
Headquarters, had identified the men following the directive of the
Inspector-General of Police.
Shogunle said that the
incident happened on July 31 at 5 p.m. along the Murtala Mohammed International
Airport road in Lagos.
He explained that the
two policemen were attached to the 20 Police Mobile Force Squadron, and were
attached to a private security company, Infinity Security Company.
“Along the way as seen
in the video which has been confirmed from investigation, the two policemen
involved started shooting into the air for no just cause.
“They have been
identified and they have been in detention since then because investigation was
conducted and after that they have been tried in orderly room and punishment
has been recommended.
“We are only waiting
for the appropriate police authority to review the punishment then we will make
the full details known to the public.
“One thing is clear
that the conduct of those policemen as seen in that video is unacceptable, that
is not part of what our officers should be engaged in.
“They are no longer
involved in any duty where they will carry any weapon. They will be in
detention until the process is over before they will be released.
“Investigation has
shown that they have no justifiable reason to have expended or fire their
weapons into the air,” he added.
Shogunle assured
members of the public that officers dismissed for corruption would also be
prosecuted in court in line with the Inspector-General of Police’s directive.
“Apart from dismissal,
we are also going to see the prosecution of such unethical officers in the
court of law”.