The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Rilwan Disu, has said that both police officer that takes money for bail and the payer will be prosecuted., while calling on members of the public to trust police.

The IGP spoke through Head of the Nigeria Police Force Complaint Response Unit (CRU) Superintendent of Police(SP), Awu Fidelis Jonah, during the RoadWalk organised by Eagle Crime Awareness and Prevention Initiative (ECAPI)-Complaint Response Unit (CRU) rally.

The rally, with the theme: “Say No To Impunity, Say No To Crime, Police Is Your Friend,” was aimed at strengthening community and police relationship.

Jonah said: “This is an important event, considering that we are trying to rebuild the trust we lost with the members of the public. This is a good initiative by ECAPI. This will bring back the confidence and accountability the public expects from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Bail is free and no one is expected to pay a dime whenever they or their loved ones are arrested. The GP has emphasised that nobody arrested is expected to pay anything.

The giver and the taker will be arrested and prosecuted.

“There have been a lot of changes and the number of the bad eggs in the police has reduced and we investigate complaints properly and the officers are given the appropriate punishment. So, this has started building confidence. We look forward to this kind of partnership. We are calling for more to ensure a better Nigeria.

Speaking, National Coordinator, ECAP-CRU, Ambassador Samuel Eniola, said: “We are out to sensitise Nigerians on anti-crime, police brutality and let them know that bail is free. Any Police officer that works against the mandate of the IGP will find himself or herself to be blamed.

“According to the mandate given to us by the IGP, we have to take this campaign to the grassroots level. We have written to all the local governments and we will embark on taking the campaign to them, the markets, motor parks, schools and others.

“Some police officers do not know what CRU stands for so, we are still sensitising officers at all level.

Speaking on behalf of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, said: “There won’t have been a better time than now for the police to collaborate. This corporation strengthens the intelligence sharing and ease tension in the community. We appreciate ECAPI-CRU and are behind this.

Also speaking, Officer In Charge, CRU, Lagos Police, Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mogaji Idriss, said: “We’ve achieved a visible number of success and the public can bear witness that we are prompt and we always update the public on punishment meted on erring officers.

“An emergency meeting was called by the Commissioner of Police regarding Ikorodu and he has was warned officers on the use of unregistered vehicles especially minibuses and I believe there will be changes. We have also taken decisive action on the resent one that happened in Ikorodu and the officers will be punished.