By Onome Oghenetega
As the Yuletide season approaches, the Nigeria Police Force says it is aggressively raiding flash areas and conducting security patrols across the oil-city of Warri and environs, to curb crime.
The Warri Area Commander, Mr. Muhammad Garba, stated this during a media parley with newsmen at the Command’s headquarters in Warri.
He also disclosed that the Command recorded a major feat recently after raiding a notorious joint known as Downtown in Warri, where “many suspects” were arrested with “hard drugs” and have been charged to court for prosecution.
Stating that the crime rate has drastically reduced around the Warri and Effurun metropolis, the Commander appealed to residents of the twin cities to give “useful information” that the Police can work with.
According to him, measures put in place to make Warri and Effurun safe and secured include, “aggressive patrol and raiding of black spots”.
He however warned Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), as well as Heads of Departments (HODs), against seizing the opportunity to extort members of the public.
Speaking on the continuous extortion and harassment that most persons, especially young boys face in the hands of uniformed officers, Garba said, “I have directed my DPOs and HODs, raiding and patrol is not to extort money from members of the public and I am sure they have complied with that instruction.
“I have warned all the DPOs and policemen that they don’t have the right to check people’s phones because that is their private domain. You don’t have that right to check people’s phones or laptops.”
