The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, has warned security details attached to government officials to stop engaging in domestic chores for their principals. Henceforth, no policeman attached to any official of government or private citizens should carry bags for their principal or be seen to engage in domestic chores. Anyone caught doing this would be punished.

Arase gave the warning at an interactive session with police inspectors and other rank and file personnel selected from commands nationwide at the Police Headquarters in Abuja.

He advised the cadre to respect themselves and the Nigeria Police Force by not engaging in menial jobs for their principals.

“I have directed the commissioner of police in-charge of the airports that if they find any of you carrying boxes (of VIPs) and rifles, and dragging them all over the place, they should arrest you and you will be punished.’’ Arase said henceforth only government officials would enjoy police protection.

“Those of you who are posted to VIPs, on no account should you carry their bags and on no account should you act as domestic servants to them.

“You are police officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and they must respect you as such.

“Your uniform must be respected, anybody who wants to hire a domestic help should not use our policemen who are sent to protect them as domestic help,’’ he said.

Arase said the interacting was organised to enable the personnel to interface with the management team for better working relations as well as to enable them to table their problems.

He said he would focus on the war against corruption and enforcement of the ban on roadblocks.

He assured them that their welfare would be given priority attention as a way of encouraging them to discharge their duties effectively.

Arase further promised that the police had concluded plans to provide them affordable accommodation through the police mortgage and cooperative at not more than N3.5 million.

He said that after the inauguration the new government on May 29, a number of policemen would proceed on training preparatory to their promotion.

However, the IG said that the welfare of police personnel would be based on good conduct and hard work.

“Your professional conduct is going to mean so much to the current administration in the police,’’ he said.

He warned them against disobeying traffic rules, saying: “If you are going to enforce the law, you must obey the law before you start enforcing the law.’’

Commenting on the indiscriminate use of siren, the Arase directed policemen in the field to arrest those not authorised to use siren.

“Anywhere you are doing your duty and found those not authorised using the siren; I am giving you authority to arrest them.

“You must not hold horsewhips or sticks to assault anybody on the highways,’’ he said.

Addressing the personnel, the Deputy Inspector-General In-charge of Finance/Administration, Mr Hilary Opara, said more than 35,000 of officers in the rank and file cadre would be promoted.