Police
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Fatai Tijani, says the command will intensify enforcement against security personnel found operating commercial vehicles, describing the practice as harmful to the image and professionalism of security agencies.
Tijani stated this on Friday at the command headquarters in Ikeja while receiving the management of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on a courtesy visit.
The police boss said the command would strengthen enforcement to identify and apprehend offenders.
“We have always maintained that security personnel should not operate commercial vehicles while in uniform. It is not good for the image of the security services, and we will continue to enforce the directive against the practice,” he said.
Tijani, however, noted that many of those seen in security uniforms engaging in such activities were not serving police officers.
“The majority of them are not police personnel. Many are dismissed officers or individuals unlawfully wearing police uniforms to impersonate security personnel and deceive members of the public,” he said.
The commissioner said the command would issue fresh directives to divisional police officers to arrest anyone found illegally wearing police uniforms or violating the directive.
He urged residents to report such persons to the police, assuring them that every report would be investigated promptly.
Earlier, the NAN delegation, led by the Head of Lagos Operations, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Omowole urged the command to address the increasing number of persons seen wearing security uniforms while driving commercial vehicles.
Omowole said the trend was capable of tarnishing the image of security agencies and called for proactive measures to check the abuse before it became more widespread.
She also encouraged the police to sustain efforts at protecting the integrity of the uniform.
Other members of the NAN delegation are the Head of Editorial Department, Mr. Kevin Okunzuwa and the Head of Defence and Security desk, Ms. Edith Bolokor.(NAN)
