Lagos Police explains encounter with musician Praiz

Lagos Police explains encounter with musician Praiz

Monday, December 25, 2017 11:06 pm


Praiz

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi, on Monday advised celebrities to utilise the Citizens Complaints Hot Centre (CCHC), instead of resorting to cheap blackmail on the social media.

The CP made the plea in a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, SP Chike Oti, following an encounter between the Police and Praize, a musician.

According to the statement, on Dec. 19, at 12midnight, policemen attached to Area ‘J’ Command Headquarters, Ajah, Lagos, who were on routine, anti-crime patrol along the Lekki/Epe expressway, noticed a car at top speed approaching their end.

“The policemen sensed that the speed was much and so were alarmed, hence they flagged down the car to check on the occupants and if necessary, search the trunk of the car.

“When the car stopped, the officers who were in their uniforms, approached the driver but to their disbelief, the driver, who was yet to be addressed by the policemen became hysterical, without provocation and started shouting “SARS, SARS, SARS… OOO’’.

“As he was shouting and pouring unprintable invectives on the officers of the law, he was at the same time filming them.

“These unprovoked actions on the part of the driver, whose true identity at that time was unknown to the patrolmen, made them even more suspicious of him and so they requested him to come with them to see the Area Commander, ACP Felix Oben, whom they had already called to report the conduct of the man.

“It was at the Area Commander’s Office that they got to know that he is a musician that goes by the name `Praize’. The Area Commander questioned him and advised him to be of good behaviour.

“He, thereafter, departed the police station peacefully, without any molestation whatsoever.

“The Police authority in Lagos nevertheless felt scandalised by Praize’s rudeness to the men in uniform, who were out to ensure law, order and safety along the Lekki/ Epe corridor.

“It is a matter of common knowledge that the Command’s Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi, who has dismissed a number of policemen that abused their offices since assuming office, would not have hesitated to deal with the policemen, if they had erred.

“It is also instructive to note that the officers are not SARS operatives as erroneously assumed by Praize but conventional policemen in their uniforms, serving at the Area ‘J’ Command Headquarters.

“The Lagos State Police Command wishes to use this medium to inform all and sundry in Lagos State, that the present CP had on assumption of office set up the CCHC with dedicated lines, where complaints against police actions can be lodged for necessary action.

“Celebrities are therefore advised to take advantage of  these numbers or call on the Police Public Relations Officer, instead of resorting to cheap social media blackmail,’’ the statement said.

The CCHC telephone numbers are: 08067945296, 08063025274, 08113615350, 08113683077, 08096283148, 08096283183, 08089781657, 08126404930, 08081426895. (NAN)
BOM/PIO/PIO


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