Police Justify Chaining Officer

The use of leg chains on a former police officer, Vincent Makinde, has been justified by the Nigeria Police Force which dismissed allegations that Makinde’s detention was unwarranted.

This came shortly after a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana demanded Makinde’s release, claiming that he had been subjected to cruel treatment and raising concerns about the conditions surrounding his imprisonment.

In a statement released on Wednesday, force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed that Makinde was a police inspector until his dismissal in 2022 after a civil trial by the force.

According to Adejobi, Makinde was found guilty of several gross misconducts, extortion, abuse of office, and insubordination.

Adejobi said chaining the officer was deemed essential to guarantee the safety of officers on the ground and to prevent another escape attempt after his previous violent outburst.

He said, “The police hereby clarify that contrary to the erroneous narrative, Vincent Makinde was dismissed as a Police Inspector from the Nigeria Police Force in 2022 following a thorough investigation and orderly room trial due to several serious offences, such as abuse of office, extortion, gross misconduct, dereliction of duty, and insubordination, among others.

“While awaiting the validation of the orderly room proceedings and subsequent prosecution, Vincent Makinde assaulted a senior police officer on duty and subsequently escaped from lawful custody.

“Upon discovering this, the Police authority issued a directive for his immediate re-arrest. The suspect was apprehended while impersonating an active, sworn senior police officer and carrying a rifle.

“When approached by police operatives, Vincent Makinde exhibited violent and aggressive behaviour, resisting lawful arrest and detention.

“Due to his continuous violent conduct and his prior escape from lawful custody, the suspect was restrained using foot restraining devices,” Adejobi added.

The Force PRO maintained that actions of the police aligned with global best practices and safety protocols.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains dedicated to fostering transparency and accountability within its operations, striving to maintain the public’s trust and confidence.

“This commitment is evident as the Nigeria Police Force continues to work tirelessly to uphold the rule of law and reinforce the integrity of policing.

“We strive to maintain the public’s trust and confidence by ensuring that personnel who violate the law are held accountable for their actions,” the statement read.

Police Justify Chaining Officer is first published on The Whistler Newspaper