Council Chairman Leads Protest, Calls for Sack of Police Officer Over Brazen Violation of Citizens
Ayodele Adewale, the chairman of the Amuwo Odofin local government area in Lagos, on Monday accused an assistant commissioner of police of arbitrarily engaging in brazen violation of human rights, state laws, and traffic rules in Lagos State.
Staging an outdoor protest on Monday, Mr. Adewale described ACP Dan Okoro as a lawless officer who abuses his authority. Mr. Okoro works at the Area E Command in FESTAC town, Lagos.
Mr. Adewale led staff of the local government as well as residents of his area in a public protest. The protesters demanded the investigation and sack of Mr. Okoro
According to the protesters, the senior police officer has a habit of directing haulage tankers with metal containers to travel against the direction traffic as well as in densely populated residential areas, thereby jeopardizing people’s safety and causing damage to the environment.
One of the protesters told a correspondent of SaharaReporters that Mr. Okoro was notorious for taking bribes from tanker drivers in exchange for allowing them to carry dangerous and often unstable freight through heavily populated areas. “The haulage trucks endanger lives and property, but ACP Okoro doesn’t care because all he wants is the money that enters his pocket,” one of the demonstrators said.
In his own comment, the local government boss stated that the ACP “allows metal container vehicles of 40 feet into residential areas of FESTAC town through one-way streets, thereby destroying roads, barricades and green lawns constructed and rehabilitated by the local government.”
The local council officials said they resorted to a protest because the errant ACP had often assaulted those who cautioned him against breaking traffic laws. They alleged that the police officer even threatened some of them with a gun.
The protesters called on the Inspector General of Police, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, and Governor Babatunde Fashola to intervene in order to arrest ACP Okoro’s abuse of office, harassment of civilians, and violation of traffic laws.
Mr. Okoro had been accused in the past of threatening civilians with a gun. Earlier this year, members of the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) petitioned Inspector General Muhammed Abubakar over an alleged threat by the officer against Christopher Orji, the president of the journalists’ association, and other members. The petition stated that Mr. Okoro had warned journalists never to write any reports involving him or any police officer in his command. The reporters stated that Mr. Okoro had threatened to use force against them when they questioned his directive.
A police source at the FESTAC station told a correspondent of SaharaReporters that Mr. Okoro was fond of boasting to them that he is “IG's boy.” He said that all police officers at the command were careful not to cross him.
The police officer said that Mr. Okoro “feels he has the guts to do anything” because of his closeness to the IGP.
Staging an outdoor protest on Monday, Mr. Adewale described ACP Dan Okoro as a lawless officer who abuses his authority. Mr. Okoro works at the Area E Command in FESTAC town, Lagos.
Mr. Adewale led staff of the local government as well as residents of his area in a public protest. The protesters demanded the investigation and sack of Mr. Okoro
According to the protesters, the senior police officer has a habit of directing haulage tankers with metal containers to travel against the direction traffic as well as in densely populated residential areas, thereby jeopardizing people’s safety and causing damage to the environment.
One of the protesters told a correspondent of SaharaReporters that Mr. Okoro was notorious for taking bribes from tanker drivers in exchange for allowing them to carry dangerous and often unstable freight through heavily populated areas. “The haulage trucks endanger lives and property, but ACP Okoro doesn’t care because all he wants is the money that enters his pocket,” one of the demonstrators said.
In his own comment, the local government boss stated that the ACP “allows metal container vehicles of 40 feet into residential areas of FESTAC town through one-way streets, thereby destroying roads, barricades and green lawns constructed and rehabilitated by the local government.”
The local council officials said they resorted to a protest because the errant ACP had often assaulted those who cautioned him against breaking traffic laws. They alleged that the police officer even threatened some of them with a gun.
The protesters called on the Inspector General of Police, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, and Governor Babatunde Fashola to intervene in order to arrest ACP Okoro’s abuse of office, harassment of civilians, and violation of traffic laws.
Mr. Okoro had been accused in the past of threatening civilians with a gun. Earlier this year, members of the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) petitioned Inspector General Muhammed Abubakar over an alleged threat by the officer against Christopher Orji, the president of the journalists’ association, and other members. The petition stated that Mr. Okoro had warned journalists never to write any reports involving him or any police officer in his command. The reporters stated that Mr. Okoro had threatened to use force against them when they questioned his directive.
A police source at the FESTAC station told a correspondent of SaharaReporters that Mr. Okoro was fond of boasting to them that he is “IG's boy.” He said that all police officers at the command were careful not to cross him.
The police officer said that Mr. Okoro “feels he has the guts to do anything” because of his closeness to the IGP.
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