The Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mukan, has said that the state has put an end to using torture to extract confessional statements from suspects.

A mechanic, Chima Ikwunado, died in police custody after some policemen allegedly tortured him, after wrongly labelling him an armed robber.

But the CP, who spoke on Thursday, April 23rd, 2020 at his maiden press briefing in Port Harcourt as the new Rivers State Commissioner of Police, explained that the police in the state would embrace other standard approach of investigation to extracting the truth from suspected criminals.

He explained that he would lead by example and make sure that police officers involved in corrupt practices and other infractions would face disciplinary sanctions.

Mukan, who promised to build on the achievements of his predecessor, Mustapha Dandaura, said he would ensure that innocent persons were not unlawfully detained by the police.

He said,

The days of torturing suspects to get confessional statements are gone. We will embrace standard ways of investigation and getting the truth from criminal suspects.

I wish to affirm that I shall provide credible leadership that is professional, responsive and accountable; that is able to tap and explore our rich manpower base to impact on our mandate.

All Area Commanders, DPOs/HODs are hereby given the marching order to closely monitor the activities of personnel, especially while enforcing compliance to the restriction orders to contain the spread of coronavirus ravaging the entire globe.

Furthermore, all complaints of corrupt practices and other infractions against my personnel will be investigated and officers found culpable will be sanctioned accordingly. The command shall be proactive in nipping crime in the bud through intelligence.

The CP noted that in line with the policy of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, his command would involve the citizens to partner police to achieve effective crime control.

He added,

State Community Policing Advisory Committee is the custodian of community policing in the state and will deal with community policing matters. The committee is to foster security awareness and monitor progress of community policing in the state.

He also promised to entrench a harmonious working relationship with the state government to achieve a common goal of an environment conducive for every law abiding citizen to achieve their potential.

Copyright PUNCH.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.