ABUJA  – The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, has vowed to sanction officers and men of the force for unprofessional conduct, most especially now that the 2015 elections are drawing nearer.
Abba gave the warning yesterday in Abuja while presenting the “Inspector-General of Police Award’’ to four junior officers for their exceptional performance, with one receiving it posthumously.
The award was organised by the I-G in collaboration with Puzzle Group Ltd., a holding company.
“We will make sure that officers act professionally in their conducts, and let me also assure that where misconduct cannot be corrected ordinarily, sanctions will be applied.
“In fact, this is absolutely necessary, particularly as we are approaching the elections in 2015’’, Abba said.
The I-G attributed the peaceful conduct of parties’ primaries so far partly to the provision of adequate security by the force.
“Primaries have been conducted, the political parties have presented their candidates to us and I am sure before the end of the week, all the candidates will be presented by the parties.
“That is their responsibilities and we were there to give the security necessary for them to conduct the primaries in a peaceful manner.
“I am glad to note that almost all the political parties had done so successfully and some of them have even commended the activities of police officers publicly,’’ he said.
On the award, Abba said recipients were selected based on “hard work, honesty and humility’’, adding that each of the officers exhibited either one or all of the criteria.
Abba said that the performance and achievement by one of the awardees was discussed at the highest level of security meeting in the country.
He said that the award which attracted monetary benefit would not only motivate the officers to do more but had given them national recognition.
Mr Bayo Adeyemo, the Chief Executive of Puzzle Group, said the police needed to be appreciated and recognised because of the services they rendered to the public.
Adeyemo said that in an ideal society, they were the “people’s best of friends’’.
“Of all the law enforcement agencies, the police are not only the most visible but unarguably the closest to the common man on the street.
“The essence of this award is to tell them that their efforts are not in vain,’’ he said.
The recipients are Sergents Bonze Pelesia, who received the best award, got N1 million, Ibrahim Biki, N500,000, Usman Mohammed, N250,000 and late Maimunat Yusuf, who also received N500,000.