The Edo State Police Command has dismissed allegations that the force promotes “bad eggs” instead of punishing them, insisting that officers facing disciplinary actions are strictly ineligible for career advancement.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, made this clarification on Thursday while responding to a critic on X who accused the Nigeria Police Force of fostering a culture of impunity.
Refuting the claim that unprofessional conduct is applauded, Ikoedem stated that sanctions within the command are rigorous and based on the gravity of the offence.
“No officer in the Edo State Police Command is applauded for unprofessional conduct of any kind.
“In fact, any officer facing disciplinary proceedings is ineligible for promotion alongside their peers until such matters are conclusively resolved,” Ikoedem wrote.
The spokesperson further stated that the command has recently dismissed several officers from service to serve as a deterrent, with other penalties ranging from a reduction in rank to criminal prosecution.
Addressing the public’s grievance regarding road operations and the searching of bags, the ASP argued that “stop-and-search” remains a vital legal tool for crime prevention.
“Police officers are empowered by law to conduct searches where there is reasonable suspicion,” she noted.
Ikoedem continued, “This policing strategy has proven invaluable in crime prevention and detection, leading to the recovery of firearms, ammunition, stolen vehicles, and other incriminating items.
“Members of the public are therefore encouraged to cooperate with lawful searches, as they are conducted in the interest of collective safety.”
While acknowledging that “large organisations” face challenges from the actions of a few, the spokesperson maintained that the institution itself is not the problem, and urged citizens to report cases of extortion to the Command’s Complaint Response Unit (CRU) in Benin.
“Those individuals do not represent the values of the Force, and the Command does not hesitate to hold them accountable whenever they are found wanting,” she concluded.
PUNCH Online reported earlier in April that no fewer than five officers of the Edo State Police Command have been relieved of their duties following complaints by members of the public over allegations of harassment, abduction, and extortion.