A police officer who fatally shot Alafuro Peterside in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been fired by the Nigerian Police Force.
Last month, the officer shot and killed 42-year-old Peterside at a beer parlour in Elekohia, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area in front of his wife and kids.
Nwonyi Emeka, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, confirmed the event on Tuesday when presenting criminal suspects at the command headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
The officer has been charged to court, according to CP Emeka, in the interest of justice.
According to reports, the CP exposed seven police officers who engaged in improper behaviour after one of them was cheated of some money.
The CP claimed that recently they had observed several bloggers, Tiktokers, and Tweeters posting defamatory statements against the command.
He said although some are baseless, he told the audience that the ones that are not baseless, the command will reach the heart of the situation.
“Standing here are police officers who have lately been accused by a Tiktoker video that went viral of acting in an unprofessional manner.
“And to demonstrate to you that crime and criminality know no borders, as I’ve always maintained. If you commit a crime, you will be penalised regardless of whether you are a civilian or a police officer”, the CP stated.
He has also promised the public that the command will always stand up for what is right in their capacity as police officers. Regardless of who makes the report, people shall be treated fairly to the best of their ability.
Speaking further, CP Emeka said that the accusations against them are subject to an ongoing investigation. Because neither the Inspector General of Police nor the Commissioner of Police nor the AIG ever sent anyone, they are not prepared to cover anyone.
“So, if you get your heart burnt by doing what is not expected of you as a police officer, be assured that you will face the wrath of the law.
“You can’t be very sanctimonious to show that you can hold other people responsible as a law enforcer, and you can’t show it with your own self.
“We must live beyond the normal standard of discipline before we can enforce discipline on others”, he added.
He mentioned that the police officers had been held in custody ever since they were apprehended and that the required disciplinary action would be taken against them after the investigation was finished.
The CP recommended victims of police extortion and abuse complain to his office rather than post their stories online since doing so would damage the reputation of the Nigerian Police due to the improper behaviour of a few officers.