Police Clarifies Status Of Dismissed Officer, Debunk Allegations Of Inhumane Treatment
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Nigeria Police Force has reacted to a viral video of a police officer in leg restraints, claiming to be detained without cause, and a subsequent demand of his release by legal luminary and human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana (SAN).
Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Wednesday, while describing the narrative as erroneous, also debunked allegations of Inhumane treatment on the part of the Police.
In the video, one Vincent Makinde in leg restraints, claimed he is an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) who was being detained without cause.
Clarifying the matter, Adejobi said that Makinde was dismissed as a Police Inspector from the Nigeria Police Force in 2022 after a thorough investigation and orderly room trial found him guilty of several serious offences such as abuse of office, extortion, gross misconduct, dereliction of duty, and insubordination among others.
While awaiting the validation of orderly room proceedings and subsequent prosecution, Vincent Makinde assaulted a senior police officer on duty and subsequently escaped from lawful custody. Around June 2024, he resurfaced, parading himself as a bona fide member of the Nigeria Police Force, adorning the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police without being previously absolved of his offences or promoted. Being made aware of this, the Police authority issued a directive for his immediate re-arrest.
“The suspect was apprehended while personating himself as an active sworn senior police officer, and armed with a rifle. When approached by police operatives, Vincent Makinde exhibited violent and aggressive behaviour while resisting lawful arrest and detention. Upon his arrest, the suspect was restrained using feet restraining devices due to his continuous violent nature coupled with the fact that he had previously escaped from lawful custody in a violent manner. The officers deemed it necessary to employ the use of these restraints as a precaution to ensure the safety of the officers on duty, prevent another escape, and secure against any potential harm to him and others around him, that might arise from his aggressive demeanour”, Adejobi said, noting that the use of leg restraining devices is a global practice for individuals actively, aggressively, or aggravatingly resisting lawful detention.
The ORO averred that “Vincent Makinde remains a dismissed police officer, serial criminal, and is currently in custody awaiting conclusion of investigations and prosecution. Further investigations have revealed his involvement in several other nefarious acts in addition to those which led to his earlier dismissal. Intensive investigation into the circumstances of his current impersonation offence is also ongoing”.
He reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force remains dedicated to fostering transparency and accountability within its operations, striving to maintain the public’s trust and confidence.
“Through thorough investigations and strict protocols, the Force is steadfast in the pursuit of truth and justice, while ensuring that its personnel who violate the law are held accountable for their actions. This commitment is evident as the Nigeria Police Force continues to work tirelessly to uphold the rule of law and reinforce the integrity of policing”, he said.
