By ALABA OLUSOLA OKE

The Police Command in Ondo State says no fewer than eight officers of the command have been sanctioned for professional misconduct in the last two months.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adebowale Lawal, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure on Friday.

Lawal said that the command under his leadership was adhering strictly to the professional ethics and norms of the Nigeria Police.

The Commissioner of Police explained that the sanction followed complaints received from members of the public during the period.

He noted that the command had given members of the public avenues in making complaints and showing their grievances on any erring officers and men of the command.

“We have the monitoring units. We have the provost. We have the complaint response unit (CRU).

“So, once we get complaints about any officer, that person faces it. Some have been detained while some have been queried. It depends on your rank or you face the room trial.

“As a matter of fact, we talk about it daily: corruption, extortion and illegal roadblock. We warn our men to desist from such. If you are caught, you will face the music.

“So far, so good, about eight officers of the command have been sanctioned in last two months,” he said.

Lawal, who commended the public for the command’s success in the past two months, asked the public to fill free in making their complaints known to divisional police officer, police area commander or put a call directly to him.

He urged members of public to continue to feed the command with appropriate information for safety and protection of lives and property.

According to him, he has made himself accessible to public, monitoring all officers and men closely in the command in ensuring efficiency and proficiency of policing.

He appreciated the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun for prompt salary payment of police, noting that some personnel had been promoted because of their excellent performance while some were rewarded.

Lawal added that he personally appreciated personnel that excelled in previous week during review of weekly activities.

“Just call my number and I will pick. I have asked the DPOs and Area Commanders to make their cell phone numbers known and accessible as well.

“I go out to check area commands and units because I am not an armchair commander.

“We have to lead by example and that is the mission of the IGP. So, we have to key into it: transparency, accountability, and cooperation with other agencies, which of course we are enjoying.

“There’s no rivalry, no competition,” he told NAN.

He said that comprehensive and regular stakeholders’ meeting with members of public had been a great help to the success of the command since his assumption of duty on June 30, 2025.

The CP stated that the IGP had made it as a priority to train and retrain personnel in diligent investigation and crime fighting so that there would be strong prosecution of suspects in courts.

Lawal added that the command had prepared an operation order for the ember months in ensuring that the last quarter of the year was crime-free in Ondo State. (NAN)