Police punish 28 officers, arrest 124 cultists in Awka
The Anambra Police command today said it had punished no fewer 28 police officers who committed different offences in the course of duty.
In a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed , the command said the punishment meted out to the police officers included outright sack from the force.
Mohammed said the development was in line with the command’s zero tolerance for corruption and professional misconduct.
He said: ”It is also on record that the present leadership of the command under CP Garba Baba Umar has zero tolerance for corruption and professional misconduct hence the creation of a special unit called Anambra State Police Public Complaint Unit which is saddled with investigating professional misconduct such as extortion, incivility to members of the public and excessive use of force among others.
“This is in addition to other outfits such as IGP X Squad and CP monitoring unit.
“So far, the command has sanctioned over 28 personnel for various disciplinary offences, and punishment ranging from dismissal from the Force, reduction in ranks and in some cases prosecution of erring officers was meted out on defaulters”.
Similarly, the PPRO said over 124 persons suspected to be cultists had been arrested from different parts of the state.
He said the arrests were made during a raid on criminal hideouts and black spots.
He said 37 of the suspects had confessed and were charged to court while 53 were screened and released and 34 others are still undergoing interrogation.
He added, “The state Commissioner of Police Garba Umar had ordered aggressive raids on criminal hideouts and black spots in the state to ensure people of the state, both at home and in diaspora, celebrate Christmas and New Year without hindrance or molestation.
