Policemen have been warned against arrest of the public by proxy, as it is illegal to arrest an innocent person in lieu of a suspect.
Abia state Commissioner of Police, Ambrose Aisabor who gave the warning at the headquarters of the Mobile Police (MOPOL) 55 squadron, Aba, in continuation of his familiarization tour of police formations in the state said it was against the law of natural justice for a wife for instance to be arrested when the husband who committed an offence could not be found during arrest.
“Policemen should stop arresting people by proxy. A situation whereby policemen did not see a person that committed an offence and instead went to arrest a relation of the suspect should stop because this is unlawful; it is against the law of natural justice.”
He advised that it would be more appropriate for the police to exercise patience and continue to search for the actual person who committed an offence and apprehend him than arresting an innocent relation, wife or husband.
The Commissioner further said the scenario may have been the order of the day in the past, but added that with the present reform in the police initiated by IGP Mohammed Abubakar, it had become an offence for any policeman to do that.
He warned the policemen against misuse of firearms and to guide against accidental discharge, stressing that it was an offence for any policeman to take his firearm to his home after work.
“I urge you to read Force Order 237 for you to be able to know when to use your firearms because anybody found going contrary would be dealt with”, he warned them.
Wilson Dankwano, Commander, MOPOL 55, told the Commissioner that the base was established at the height of the kidnap saga in Aba in 2008 and said they were able to fight the hoodlums to a standstill
