The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, has been urged to stop his men from harassing Nigerians.
Politics Nigeria reports that the Nigerian Senate made this call on Tuesday, July 4.
Specifically, the Senate asked IGP Egbetokun to direct his men to immediately stop the extortion, intimidation and harassment of motorists and commuters on highways.
The Senate resolution was a sequel to adopting a motion at the plenary on “Urgent Need to Halt Extortion, Intimidation and Harassment of Motorists and Commuters by the Police on public roads.”
Senator Onyekachi Peter, representing Ebonyi North senatorial zone, sponsored the motion.
In his lead debate said police personnel should facilitate free passage and movement on highways.
According to him, Section 49, sub-section one of the Police Act 2020, empowers the police to conduct stop and search operations.
He alleged that policemen, whose duty is to facilitate free passage and movement of commuters and motorists on public roads, had taken undue advantage by resorting to extortion, intimidation and harassment of motorists.
According to him, the time has come for decisive actions as policemen continue their intimidation, harassment and torture of ordinary Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Sen. Elisa Abbo insisted that the extortion of commuters on public roads was not only limited to personnel of Nigerian police but other security agencies in uniform.
He said there was an urgent need for the police to reform itself.
