Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigeria Police Force has issued a stern warning to all Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPOLs), Superintendents of Police (SUPOLs), Tactical Commanders, and Heads of State Traffic Divisions, cautioning them against extortion under the guise of enforcing third-party insurance regulations.
In a wireless communication marked CB: 4001/RVS/VOL.61/166, obtained by SaharaReporters, the police leadership expressed concern that some officers had turned the nationwide insurance enforcement into an avenue for illegal financial exploitation. The message emphasized that only designated state traffic personnel are authorized to carry out the enforcement, and any deviation from this directive would attract severe consequences.
According to the directive, any police personnel or formation found violating the order will face disciplinary action, including immediate removal of the head of the offending formation. The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to ensuring that officers act within their legal bounds and do not abuse their powers for personal gain.
The signal, addressed to various police formations, read in part:
“The enforcement of third-party insurance nationwide has been turned into an avenue for extortion by policemen on patrol and during stop-and-search operations. The Commissioner of Police has, therefore, directed that only state traffic personnel are authorized to enforce this directive in the command. Any personnel or formation that flouts this directive will be decisively dealt with, and the head of such formation will be removed from office and replaced with a competent officer.”
This move underscores the police force’s resolve to curb corruption and maintain discipline among its ranks while ensuring that third-party insurance enforcement is conducted fairly and transparently.