The newly-deployed Police Commissioner in Rivers State, Mr. Chris Ezike, on Thursday ordered the immediate withdrawal of policemen attached to politicians and other individuals in the state.
Ezike specifically warned policemen attached to politicians without any authorization from the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to shun such deployment.
He expressed the need for officers and men of the Rivers State Command to remain neutral, maintaining that any policeman interested in partisan politics should resign from the Force and register with any political party.
Ezike, who gave the directive during his inaugural meeting with senior officers, area commanders, divisional police officers and heads of department at the Officers’ Mess Port Harcourt, promised to partner relevant stakeholders to ensure the state was safer, more secure and prosperous.
“We shall with immediate effect review our personnel deployment profile and recover wastage and unauthorized deployments. Accordingly, all Squadron Commanders are directed to withdraw PMF personnel deployed to persons not entitled and without approval from the Inspector-General of Police.
“Similarly all Area Commanders, Heads of Department and DPOs are directed to also withdraw their personnel so deployed. A monitoring task force shall soon commence action to ensure compliance.
“The 2015 elections have come and gone. However the aftershocks still remain. The Police under my watch must remain neutral, professional, fair, but very firm. Any policeman or woman who has political interest or is so committed to the ideals of any political party is advised to resign his or her commission to enable him/her to register as a political party member.
“All officers and men are to ensure that their actions and conduct remain within the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, Police Acts and Regulations and other extant legislation”, Ezike said.
