President Muhammadu Buhari has warned officers of the Nigeria Police Force to stop harassing young Nigerians for looking successful or carrying a laptop.
Buhari issued this warning in his address at the opening ceremony of a three-day conference and retreat for senior police officers in Lagos on Monday.
The president, who was represented by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, said reports of harassing innocent people “just because they look successful and are carrying laptops” must end.
Buhari said: “Nigerian people old and young want our Police force to be better and to do better; they want to be even prouder of your service than ever before.
“This is why in some of our urban areas we want to see more compliance with the rule of law and in dealing with Nigerians.
“Recently many civil society groups have complained about the arrest of young men and women just because they look successful and are carrying laptops.
“Yes we must apprehend yahoo criminals but we cannot harass young men and women on the streets and in taxis most of whom are merely going about their legitimate businesses.
“There are also cases of extrajudicial killings and injuries; misuse of weapons and excessive use of force by some members of the force.
“This sort of conduct by a few bad police officers must stop, and it is the duty of you senior and strategic leaders of the Police force to ensure that impunity of any kind is discouraged and punished where it is found.”
