The Nigeria Police Force has warned that both police officers who demand money for bail and individuals who pay for it risk arrest and prosecution, as the Force intensifies efforts to curb extortion and misconduct.
Awu Fidelis, Head of the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU), Force Headquarters, Abuja, gave the warning on Friday during a sensitisation rally in Lagos organised by the NPF-CRU in partnership with the Eagle Crime Awareness and Prevention Initiative (ECAPI).
Fidelis said the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, had repeatedly reiterated that bail was free and that no officer had the right to demand payment for the release of an arrested person.
He urged residents to report officers who violated the directive, warning that both parties involved in the payment of money for bail could face legal consequences.
According to him, the partnership between the CRU and ECAPI is aimed at rebuilding public confidence in the police, strengthening accountability and improving relations between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.
He said the CRU investigated complaints against police personnel and ensured that appropriate disciplinary measures were taken against officers found culpable.
Fidelis noted that the increasing number of complaints received through the unit’s offices and communication channels indicated growing public confidence in its complaint-handling process.
He urged residents to report police misconduct through the CRU’s telephone lines, 08057000001 and 08057000002, or send WhatsApp complaints to 08057000003. Complaints can also be submitted through the unit’s social media platforms.
Also speaking, the Officer-in-Charge of the CRU in Lagos State, DSP Idris Mogaji, said the unit had recorded successes in addressing complaints against police officers through prompt investigations and appropriate disciplinary action.
Mogaji explained that complainants were kept informed about the progress and outcomes of investigations, including disciplinary decisions taken against officers found guilty of misconduct.
He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Fatai Tijani, had convened a meeting with officers to address concerns about unprofessional conduct, including the use of unregistered vehicles, particularly buses.
According to him, the command had taken steps to enforce compliance with the directive and had acted on a recent incident involving some police officers.
He urged residents to report unprofessional conduct through 09111111151 and 09111111150, the command’s social media platforms or written petitions addressed to the Commissioner of Police.
Mogaji reaffirmed the command’s commitment to accountability and ensuring that complaints against police personnel received appropriate attention.
The founder of ECAPI, Amb. Samuel Eniola, said the organisation would extend its campaign on police accountability and crime prevention to communities, markets, motor parks and police formations across Lagos State.
Eniola said the initiative was designed to educate residents, particularly young people, about the functions of the CRU and the procedures for reporting police misconduct.
He explained that the campaign would cover local government areas, communities, police stations, barracks, area commands, transport unions and other associations across the state.
He added that police personnel would also be sensitised to improve their understanding of the CRU and its responsibilities in receiving and addressing complaints against officers.
According to him, ECAPI had begun engaging local governments and received encouraging responses, with further outreach activities planned across the state.
Eniola identified youths as a major target of the campaign, stressing the need for sustained community engagement to educate them about criminal behaviour, responsible conduct and the consequences of breaking the law.
He said community-based sensitisation would help reach young people who might not regularly access information through television, radio and newspapers.
The ECAPI founder added that the organisation’s mandate extended beyond advocacy against police brutality to include crime prevention, responsible behaviour and cooperation with law enforcement agencies to build safer communities.
In his remarks, Tijani, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, Mr Anthony Placid, expressed the command’s support for the partnership.
He commended the leadership of the CRU and ECAPI, describing collaboration between the police and advocacy organisations as timely and important for strengthening public trust.
Tijani said such partnerships could improve information sharing, promote accountability and enhance security at the community level.
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The sensitisation campaign began at the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja and ended at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Annex in Obalende.
The exercise featured roadshows, market outreach, distribution of information materials and demonstrations on how residents could use the CRU’s complaint-reporting platforms to report police misconduct.
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