Officers and men of the Nigerian Police who engage in stopping of containers outside the port after being duly cleared are acting illegally, so says the Police Commissioner in charge of Western Ports; Mr Alkali Shaba has declared.
The Commissioner of Police has also advised freight forwarders operating at the nation’s ports to know their rights when dealing with police officers, most especially as it concerns their daily business activities.
Alkali stated this on Tuesday during a familiarization visit to the headquarters of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) in Lagos.
While responding to complaints of harassment and undue interference by police officers outside the port, Alkali stressed the need for operators in the freight forwarding to have a good working relationship with police officers to nip such acts in the bud.
Members of NAGAFF had earlier lamented the attitude of some men of the Police who are in the habit of checking consignments that have been duly cleared from the port, a situation the police commissioner frowned at.
The Police Commissioner also revealed that Lagos State has the highest number of illegal duty mounted by police men, adding that the force will continue to arrest and deal with erring personnel decisively whenever they are caught.
He however said that most of the officers stopping containers outside the port are there on illegal duty, pointing out that some of them are fake police officers who have been dismissed from the Force, but who parade themselves as genuine officers.
“Some of them are criminals in uniform and the leadership of the police will not condone that."
" If you have been cleared from the port why should anyone stop you? There is need to know your right when relating with officers. If you stand on your ground, you will discover that most of them are on illegal duty."
“There are bad eggs in the force. That cannot be ruled out. We have been battling with these fake officers who have been dismissed from the force, we promise that we will keep arresting them“, he assured.
He advised clearing agents not to hesitate to reach him whenever they are harassed by such officers, stating that he operates an open door policy.
Responding, founder of NAGAFF; Dr. Boniface Aniebonam urged members of the association to abide by the rule of law, even as he appealed to them not to abuse the privilege of having a good relationship with the new commissioner having enjoyed a robust relationship with the force in time past.
He also harped on the need for community policing, stating that it will help suppress crime in the port environment.
The founder of the NAGAFF also assured that freight forwarders will continue to partner with the Police and support the commissioner in achieving his mandate.
Discussion about this post