Nigerian police dismiss officer captured in video beating man with cutlass

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed Police Corporal Okoi Liyomo, who was caught beating a man with a cutlass in Cross River State.

Last week, social media was awash with the video of the policeman, using the flat side of a cutlass to beat a man. The assault caught the attention of the police authorities, who vowed to take action.

The incident happened in the Ekori region of the state.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, had ordered the trial of Liyomo after the viral video surfaced on the internet.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi last Friday disclosed in a tweet that Liyomo met with the IGP in Abuja on Thursday and would be tried over the incident.

“PC Okoi Liyomo, the policeman who was caught in the viral video flogging one man with a cutlass in Cross Rivers State has been brought to the Force Headquarters Abuja.

“He met with the IGP today. The IGP has ordered his trial. I await the outcome of the trial.

“We will update you ASAP. We still reiterate our commitment to sanitising the NPF, no room for nonsense, as we will not condone any act of lawlessness, unprofessionalism, corruption, harassment, and incivility,” he said last Friday.

SaharaReporters learnt that Liyomo who joined the force in 2019, will face prosecution after dismissal.

His dismissal comes amidst public outcry, particularly from youths who have been complaining about police harassment and extortion.

In October 2020, in a protest tagged #EndSARS, youths demonstrated against police brutality and called for the scrapping of a police unit known for extrajudicial killings, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

The unit was disbanded but nothing has changed, while many of the demands made by the protesting youths were not met by President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime.

Olumuyiwa in a statement on Monday, August 8, 2022, said, “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, FDC, has expressed grave disappointment at the reports of brutality and extortion leveled against some police officers via various complaint channels available to the public, particularly on social media platforms. The IGP has therefore directed all supervising Commissioners of Police and Tactical/Strategic Commanders to ensure strict supervision of their personnel as further incidences of this nature would be viewed strictly.

“The IGP has also ordered a wholistic overhauling of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the Special Tactical Squad (STS), and the Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) Units to ensure that their operations are in tandem with the purpose of their creation, and maximum effectiveness and output in line with the mandate of the IGP’s administration and public safety.

“The IGP has therefore directed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Bureau (AIG-FIB) to carry out a supervisory role over the three units to ensure their operations are professional, active, and productive and do not infringe on the fundamental rights of the citizenry, and other members of the public.

“In the same vein, the Force has dismissed *Force No. 524503 PC Liyomo Okoi* attached to Ekori Divisional Headquarters, Cross Rivers Police Command for gross misconduct captured in a viral video on 31st July 2022 where he was flogging a man with a machete. His dismissal takes effect from today the 8th of August, 2022.

“The Inspector-General of Police has therefore reiterated his commitment to ethical regeneration, restoration of professional standards, and enhancement of the anti-corruption drive with the dedication to entrenching human rights-driven policing within the country. The IGP expressed confidence that the current overhauling will improve the effectiveness of the units, and rid them of negative elements who deviate from the standard operating procedure of the Units, and the Nigeria Police Force in general.”