The new Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammed Ali, has read a riot act on Officers against accidental discharge.
The CP has, therefore, cautioned officers and men of his Command to be more professional in handling operational weapons, insisting that henceforth no case of accidental discharge would be tolerated as anyone found guilty would be punished.
Ali who talked tough, Wednesday, at the Warri Area Command while addressing men and officers said that the era of accidental discharge is no longer acceptable, adding that policemen should be more professional in handling firearms, especially in public places.
He disclosed that since the force had taken it upon itself to embark on the training and re-training of men and officers in professional ways of handling weapons, he expected that an average policeman would have learnt a lot in dealing with the public in the course of discharging their duties.
According to him: “Let me reiterate it here that the Command under my watch would no longer tolerate any case of accidental discharge, any officer found wanting would face the consequences of his or her activity.
“Anyone involved in such reckless act under my Command would have his or herself to blame, as I would ensure that the full weight of the law takes its course on the offender to serve as a deterrent to others in the force.
“The Nigerian police had committed so much in the training of officer in firearm handling, especially in public places and it is my belief that policemen would put the experiences garnered in the training to properly use in dealing with the civil populace even when carrying arms while effecting the arrest and during operations.
“The police, especially under my Command would no longer condone such careless mistakes, recklessness, and excuses that would have taken the life of somebody in the name of accidental discharge. Any officer found guilty of such an offence should be prepared to face the consequences of such action”, CP Ali concluded.
