IGP orders arrest, prosecution of persons into illegal sales of police uniforms, accoutrements
By Emma Joseph
The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the arrest and immediately prosecution of all persons or group of persons engaging in the illegal sales of police uniforms and accoutrements.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Alkali Usman, also warned film or skit makers who portray the Nigeria Police Force officers in bad light, without applying for, and being duly issued a permit letter for such portrayals, to desist with immediate effect or face the full wrath of the law.
Usman gave the warning in a statement issued by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters in Abuja on Sunday.
Usman expressed concern over the incessant and unauthorised possession and use of Police uniforms and accoutrements by some individuals, movies and skit makers, as well as the illegal sale of Police materials and accoutrements by traders in shops, open stores not approved nor recognized by Police authority.
The IGP equally frowned at the demeaning manner in which movie makers and skit makers portray the Police institution in their movies and skits, using the police uniform without recourse to the provision of Section 251 of the Criminal Code law, and Section 133 of the Penal Code Law which criminalise such unauthorised use with accompanying necessary sanctions.
“The IGP therefore charged all commands and formations, the IGP Monitoring Unit, Provost marshals and X-Squad, to arrest and immediately prosecute, in accordance with the law, all persons or group of persons engaging in the illegal sales of police uniforms and accoutrements within their jurisdictions.
“Film or skit makers who portray the Nigeria Police Force officers in bad light, without applying for, and being duly issued a permit letter for such portrayals, to desist with immediate effect or face the full wrath of the law.”
Usman further reiterated the commitment of the Force to guaranteeing compliance with law, as the force public relations officer has been charged with the task of ensuring prompt authorisation for all applications for approvals of usage of police items in movies.
This according to him would be in tandem with the extant laws and which would portray good values, impress positively on the Nigerian public, add value to police system, provide police officers with modern innovations to actively carry out policing duties and on-screen role models who would influence their lives and career; and consequently improve security mechanisms in Nigeria.
The IGP strongly believed that such sanity in movies production, regulation of sales, possession and usage of police uniforms and accoutrements would definitely impact positively on resuscitating moral values, and correcting wrong perceptions and ideologies towards commissioning of crimes in our society.
“It is obvious that this step will surely curb proliferation of Police kits, uniforms and accoutrements and eventually reduce police impostors-induced crimes in our society.”