The Delta State Ministry of Justice has issued a strong directive allowing residents to report police officers who attempt to extort them under the guise of “indecent dressing.”
This move, hailed as “good news” by Victor Ojei, National Coordinator of the Nigeria Civil Society’s Alliance for Democratic Change, signals a significant step towards curbing police misconduct in the state.
Speaking on News Central TV’s Jasiri on Friday, Ojei revealed that the Ministry of Justice has published a directive instructing citizens to contact the Department of Public Prosecution when any police officer is found attempting to exploit or extort Deltans based on claims of “indistinct” or “indecent” dressing.
Ojei also commended the Delta State Commissioner of Police for efforts made since April to address crime control and pursue kidnappers in ungoverned regions.
However, he urged law enforcement to focus more on enforcing the anti-grazing law to mitigate farmer-herder clashes.
He clarified that Section 59, Subsections 1 and 2 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act only criminalise intentionally exposing private parts, not wearing items like “bum shorts or crop tops,” as was erroneously depicted in a Nigerian police publication that has since been deleted from their social media.
Ojei noted that the police swiftly removed the publication once the Ministry of Justice issued its directive, which aims to address the police’s abuse of office and misinterpretation of the VAP law.
