Abia police command to prosecute corrupt officers
Adeleye Oyebade, Commissioner of Police (CP), Abia State, has declared zero tolerance for corruption among men and officers under his command, saying anyone caught would be made to face the law.
He also described as untrue the allegation that the executives of tricycle operators in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia, levied their members to ‘settle’ the police and other security agencies.
Oyebade, who met with the Amalgamated Tricycle Operators of Abia State (ASATOA) Abia zone, an umbrella body of tricycle operators in the state, told journalists “the ideals of modern day policing abhor corruption in all ramifications.”
He described the claims of imposition of levies on tricycle operators to ‘settle’ the police as a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the police and erode the relationship currently existing between the police and members of the public.
The commissioner stated that the police at no time directed, compelled or solicited the executive of the tricycle union or any other union, association or organisation directly or indirectly, to levy their members to ‘settle’ the police or other sister security agencies as speculated.
He emphasised zero tolerance for corruption, noting that the command has put measures in place to achieve this. The police boss enjoined the public to discountenance the speculations and join hands with the police to ensure peace and security in the state.
Tricycle operators (popularly known as Keke) withdrew their services last Tuesday, to protest what they termed, “police brutality and extortion.”
The operators, who thronged the city centre early, wielding placards with inscriptions such as “No more N50 to Police, No more N100 to Army. Monkey de work Police/Army dey chop”, observed that the police, especially police personnel at Cameroun Road Barrack, turned them into moneymaking ventures.
They alleged that about 27 of their members were arrested for refusing to give bribe to the police and urged the police high command in the State to intervene in the matter and release their members, to continue with their legitimate businesses.
They also appealed to the state government to protect tricycle operators, who they stated are contributing to the economic development of the State.
The operators, who moved peacefully round the city to express their anger on the alleged harassment by the police, however, terminated their rally at the ASATOA, Aba zonal secretariat, situated at 112 Ehi Road, where they were addressed by Eugene Eze-Job, chairman of the zone.
Eze-Job, who also decried the activities of some of these security personnel, appealed to the operators not to put laws into their hands and promised that the secretariat would take their grievances to the police and army high commands in the state for possible resolution of the issues raised.
It would be recalled that the state government at a recent forum in Aba, banned all illegal levies imposed on tricycle operators in the State, especially those in Aba.
GODFREY OFURUM