Three police officers, who were caught on camera demanding tinted glass permit from a motorist, have been nabbed and are now facing trial for professional misconduct.
Their arrest comes as the Police High Command begins the process of making the permit compulsory for many motorists, owing to the insecurity in the country.
The Force, said vehicles with unauthorised tinted glasses contribute to the ubiquitous kidnappings and crimes in the country.
Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, adding that the Force will soon clamp down on such vehicles.
He lamented that every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to have their car glasses tinted in Nigeria.
According to Adejobi, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, had a meeting with experts and officers last Wednesday on how to review the issuance of tinted permit for vehicles.
He said, “You will discover that some of these crimes, particularly violent crimes, vehicle-related crimes, are connected.
“You can’t have kidnapping, you can’t have some of these incidences without being mobile, either the use of vehicles, bikes or tricycles, and most of the vehicles they use now are tinted and that is why we want to clamp down on the use of tinted glasses.”
“Even when importing a vehicle, all tinted glasses must be removed. We don’t expect dealers to be selling vehicles with tinted glasses, whether factory-fitted or man-made,” he said.
The police spokesman, however, said very important personalities and people with defective sights can be considered to use vehicles with tinted glasses.
He said the IGP has set up a committee on the matter and the report should be before him anytime from now.
Meanwhile, the officers who allegedly harassed, according to a police spokesperson, are from Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos State. They were caught on a video that went viral last week, demanding tinted glass permit from a motorist.
Below is the viral video:
In a statement, the Zonal Public Relations Officer (ZPRO), SP. Tunni Ayuba, identified the errant officers as ASP Kenedy Ereoah, Insp. Ademiluyi Adekunle and Insp. Ayo Gbenga.
Contrary to comments that the men were kidnappers, she disclosed they were attached to the Zone 2 Command.
“The attention of the Police in Zone 2 Command was drawn to a viral video posted by social media user with the handle @EmmCee_RNB on Jan. 25, where three men claiming to be police officers attached to the command demanded a tinted glass permit from a motorist.
“The post was responded to, while investigation into the identities of the officers commenced.
“The trio are all attached to the Zonal Intelligence Bureau, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.
“Contrary to the claim that they are kidnappers, they were on official duty but acted unprofessionally.
‘The officers defaulted and are presently being tried for flouting the Inspector-General of Police’s directive on tinted glass permit,” she said.
Ayuba urged the affected motorist to contact her for further action.
“For the purpose of transparency, the command wishes to request that the affected member of the public contact the ZPPRO via GSM No. 08100025614 for further action, ” she said.