The Assistant Inspector -General of Police (AIG) in Charge of Zone 8, Mr Adekunle Oladunjoye, has warned policemen against misconduct and other negative actions that could further tranish the image of the force.

The Police Zone 2 AIG, comprising Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara, gave the warning on Friday in Lokoja while addressing men and officers of the Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Police.

He said the warning became necessary as the police under the new Acting IGP Mohammed Adamu would not tolerate acts of indiscipline and corruption.

He said that the police was undergoing restructuring with a focus to entrench professionalism.

“Your conduct and behaviour should at all times be in tandem with the police ethics.

” As a police officer, you should acquaint yourself with the police Act and adhere to it strictly to guide you in any action you are carrying out which must be within the ambit of the police law,” he said.

He said that the present force would not accept frivolous excuse for any gross misconduct, pointing out that any policeman involved in unlawful act would be made to face the music.

“For your information some policemen are in prison today because of the way they behaved which is against the police law.

“Therefore you must be conversant with with police law and guidelines.

“Police notebook must always be with you to avoid running foul of the law.

“This is democratic era and election is few weeks from now; you must be incorruptible in your daily duties and must not extort the public for whatever reason,” he warned.

Oladunjoye also cautioned them against shabby dressing, saying that they should always appear neat, smart and meticulous on duty.

He commended the Kogi State government for her assistance to the command, promising that the police would reciprocate the good gesture.

Earlier, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Busari, had told the AIG that the major security challenge facing the state was the relative high incidences of armed robberies and kidnapping along highways.

Busari, however, said that men and officers of the command were determined to confront the situation and bring it under control.

He said that a lot had also been achieved in the area of crime control and management in the state.

The commissioner then appealed for more personnel, communication equipment, arms and ammunition from the force headquarters

He informed the AIG that the state government had been forthcoming in lending support to the command.

” The local communities have also been very supportive in crime management efforts.

“In the days, weeks and months to come, we intend and look forward to building more solid and mutually beneficial relationship between the police and the well meaning public in Kogi State,” Busari said.

In his remarks, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of administration, Mr Gbenga Sadiku, pledged the support of the command to the new police leadership.

He also commended the AIG for the professional advice, assuring him that men and officers of the command would fully abide by the rules and ethics of the profession. (NAN)