Odejobi also counseled victims of police brutality to report such cases, assuring the public that the force will take appropriate actions against erring police officers
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Police Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has said confronting policemen or retaliating when they violate citizens’ rights amounts to ‘an act of disrespect to Nigeria.’
He made the disclosure via his Twitter account, while counseling citizens who have been brutalised by police to file a complaint rather than take laws into their own hands.
Odejobi’s advice came in the wake of a now-viral video, where a Nigerian, who claimed to have been molestation over his phone by a policeman, was seen dragging a rifle with the law enforcement officer during a heated argument.
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According to the police image maker, even if a police officer slaps a civilian, he has no right to return the favour.
Odejobi said: “Even if a policeman in uniform slaps a civilian, the civilian has no right to retaliate. More so, if he’s in the uniform, it’s an act of disrespect to Nigeria to beat an officer in the uniform.
“The disrespect is not to the policeman but to our nation and it’s a crime as enshrined in our criminal laws
“So, it’s not a case of what the policeman did that led to it, but the reaction of the civilians who actually assaulted the police.”
He went on to say, Police will take appropriate actions if erring police officers are reported while advising it is a better step to take if one wants to avoid incarceration and facing the court of law.
“If police assault a civilian, you report and actions will be taken to rebuke him, not to take the law into your hands. (sic)
“Let alone, it’s a matter of checking phones, which can be easily reported and addressed. Now they are kept in our 5-star hotel in Lagos and will be in court on Monday.
“Are you going to visit them or send them food, or appear in court to defend them? Don’t support what is bad, ok” he added.
