Zone 2 AIG warns all policemen in Lagos, Ogun to respect human rights or be ready to fight him

The new Assistant Inspector General of Police, in charge of Zone 2, Police Command, Onikan, Lagos State Mohammed Ali Ari, has vowed to ensure that policemen in Lagos and Ogun state, as well those attached to the command human rights of complaints and even suspects.

He added that adherence to procedural investigations and respect for fundamental human rights are uppermost on his table of challenges to tackle.

At a parley with senior journalists at the command headquarters in Onikan, Ari stressed that he was not in Zone 2 for a tea party, but to key into the vision of the current Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and ensure that aggrieved Nigerians who walk into Zone 2 command get justice.

Ari spoke on other issues, including marauding cultists and cultism, escalating kidnapping cases, too many checkpoints, police harassment of young Nigerians, extortion of Nigerians, and violations of the rights of suspects.

He explained that the media interaction was deliberate, “this is because it has been acknowledged globally that no one does it alone and this is community policing in action.”

He added, “I was deployed to this command a few months back as the AIG to oversee the affairs of Lagos and Ogun state commands. My job here is mainly supervisory but as an operational officer, I would do more than supervision which I have started. For example, patrolling especially at night, and supervision of officers and men to ensure that Lagos and Ogun states are relatively calm.

“Once Lagos is calm, Nigeria is calm. It is in this connection that I had to go to Lagos Command last month to address officers and men on the need for them to be up and doing, and to ensure that crime rate is brought to the minimal tolerable level.”

The AIG said the appointment of Egbetokun was a blessing to the Nigeria Police Force and the nation because of his vision for the Police.

“The IGP community policing model, which is about policing with a human face and respect for fundamental human rights and above all, his spirit of crime fighting like a lion is what we will all embrace and champion.

“He has started well on the right footing by collaborating with the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr Solomon Arase, with a view to accelerating promotions of deserving officers and men who had put in their best in crime fighting and are keeping the nation peaceful.

“The IGP has also rolled out welfare packages for officers and men of the force to ensure optimum performance.”

Ari urged journalists to cooperate and partner the IGP, promising to ensure officers and men under his watch key into the policing principles and policies of Egbetokun, with emphasis on “respect for human rights, no room for extrajudicial killing and unnecessary abuse of powers.”

The AIG, who said that he would continue to operate an open-door policy, urged Nigerians to report any case of abuse of their rights to the Human Rights Desk of the zone.