Yaro has refused to take action despite several complaints of extortion, intimidation, molestation and harassment by his tactical teams
The Edo State Police Commissioner, Abutu Yaro has come under fire over the alleged unprofessional conduct of police officers, especially the tactical teams under his watch.
According to some civil society organisations in the state, Yaro has refused to take action despite several complaints of extortion, intimidation, molestation and harassment by his tactical teams and calls to nip such in the bud by members of the public and activists.
They condemned the arrest of the Edo State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) by the police boss on July 28, 2022, saying the CP displayed a terrible level of intelligence and discipline.
The statement was jointly signed by Marxist Kola Edokpayi, Solomon Ijiogbe, Curtis Ogbebor and Kelly Omokaro Osunbor.
It read, “We welcome you to this press conference which has become so imperative to redeem Edo State people from the hands of an unethical leadership of a Police Commissioner whose aim and objective is to molest, extort, harass, intimidate, most times unlawfully arrest and detain innocent and law-abiding citizens all geared towards wealth amassment.
“The attention of the Civil Society Organisations in Edo State has since been drawn to the very many human rights abuses by some officers and men of the Edo State Police Command under the directive and supervision of the Edo state Police Commissioner, CP Abutu Yaro, while he pays deaf ears and grave silence to the many complaints of extortion, intimidation, molestations and harassment by his tactical teams and the clarion call to nip such in the bud by members of the public and the Civil Society Community.
“It is on record that several petitions have been written, physical appearances/representation have been made before the Commissioner of Police to address this ugly trend which less than two (2) years ago led to the ugly EndSARS protest which left Edo State one of the most hit of all the 36 States in Nigeria, including Abuja. Suffice to say that the deliberate unwarranted raids, random picks of innocent citizens and the subsequent detention and unlawful demand of not less than four hundred thousand Naira (₦400,000) to over one million naira (₦1000,000) bail money always demanded by the Police, especially the tactical teams is a grand design to rip off Edo people.
“The Police Commissioner CP Abutu Yaro who came with the mantra of equipping the rural police post and division with zero tolerance to corruption but shortly after the resumption, things changed from bad to worse in terms of Police misconduct and reckless collections, as the State Police Command has become an ATM and the populace the ATM Card. This CP is also noticed to be very interested in the parade of suspects who refuse to part with their demands in less than 10 hours of arrest, all to make more harvest of cash at the detriment of the Edo people, thereby defaming them in the process.
“The case of one Dr. Innocent Ebosele and 29 others who were arrested on the 6th of July 2022 at Iyaro on a random raid by men of the anti-cultism unit, one of the tactical teams, these persons were later in less than 10 hours of their arrest paraded on the 7th of July 2022 and arraigned on the 8th of July 2022 as cultists at the Benin High Court, Criminal Division, Sapele Road, Benin City. Whereas, some were arrested at the Motor Park where they were eating at the Oando filling station while waiting for their waybilled goods. This ugly incident is still very fresh in our minds.
“CP Abutu Yaro has displayed the worse level of intelligence and discipline by the arrest of the Edo State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner REC on the 28th July 2022, a situation that suggested that he has subjected himself to become a Political “Yes Man” to some politicians for personal gains. The pronouncement of the dissolution of the Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC) Edo State is another pointer to his unprofessional conduct, more so that he has requested all intending members to apply to him. The current spate of impounding vehicles and the search of cell phones by his men under his watch including the use of POS machines to extort money is very worrisome. It is also to our knowledge that all police formations were directed to donate to the CP during the just concluded Salah, what a shame.
“The case of one Mr. Padis who was arrested on Wednesday, 20th July around upper Sokponba Road over his refusal to open this phone for the police and was released on Thursday, 21st July on the demand of one million naira (₦1000,000) but for the swift intervention of some Civil Right Activists and the subsequent call from the force headquarters, that led to his eventual release, while the vehicle was still impounded for another 4 days and was later released on Monday, the 25th July 2022, after all, means to extort money failed.
“This trend portends danger as the 2nd anniversary of EndSARS protest draws near, these actions if not nipped, may result in the eventual breakdown of law and order in Edo State as the atmosphere is so charged to a rain of massive protests against the Police over their unethical conducts, which includes brutality and use of rude force. The CP should be asked to account for his action including how he got a Samsung Galaxy Z and an iPhone 13 which in our view are proceeds of corruption. The CP must learn to leave peacefully with all men, he must learn to apply all known etiquette in the discharge of his duty. Intelligence is not displayed by arrogance, but by humility.”