In line with his avowed commitment to maintain high level of discipline amongst officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) under his command, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan has ordered a probe into the allegations against the Divisional Police Officer of Ozuoba Police Station.

Mukan gave this order in reaction to allegations against the DPO, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ogwoke by a pharmacist and Senior Lecturer with the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Lucky Nwidu.

Dr Nwidu accused CSP Ogwoke of allegedly arresting him illegally through Inspector Bukky at his pharmacy on charges of sabotaging the lockdown ordered by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

He further alleged that Inspector Bukky, on the orders of CSP Ogwoke, illegally detained him and later extorted him of N20,000 before releasing him on bail.

But, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nnamdi Omoni, the State Commissioner of Police urged the public to be calm as he had commenced investigation into the issue.

The statement is here reproduced:

“ALLEGED POLICE INFRACTIONS:

The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a Statement credited to Dr Lucky Nwidu, the Director of Luckpharm Pharmacy on the alleged inhuman treatment meted to him by men of the Ozuoba Police Station which went viral.

2. It has become necessary at this stage to react to the above allegations and state the obvious as follows:

(a) The Command is aware of the Complaint as posted on social Media by the said Pharmacist.

(b) That the Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph G Mukan psc (+) on the receipt of the Complaint invited the DPO and his Personnel and had equally contacted the Complainant to hear from them, first hand.

(c) That after hearing from the Parties, he ordered a full scale Investigation into the matter with a view to ascertaining the cause of the infractions and bringing anybody found complicit to book.

(d) That the CP wishes to appeal to the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and indeed any other Professional Bodies to be calm, as he is poised to dealing with the matter on its merit, no matter whose ox is gored.

(e) He further wishes to state unequivocally and for the umpteenth time that he has lectured his men on the categories of persons and/ or authorities exempted from the EMERGENCY and on the need to be cautious and polite in the discharge of their responsibilities.

He is hereby finally enjoining the public to remain calm and allow the law take its full course, while assuring them that the Command under his watch will not condone any act of lawlessness and unprofessionalism by his Men and promised to remain firm and focused in the discharge of his duties in the State.

DSP Nnamdi Omoni

PPRO

For: Commr.of Police

Rivers State Command Security operatives enforcing the lockdown ordered by Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor LGAs of the State have come under fire for overreaching themselves by harassing workers in different sectors regarded as essential services such as journalists, medical personnel, among others.