Commissioner of Police in Imo State, CP Aboki Danjuma, has slammed a total ban on the use of unmarked vehicles, mini-buses, and tricycles by tactical police teams during patrols—describing the practice as gross misconduct following a flood of public complaints.
The directive, announced on Tuesday, July 16, 2025, through Police Public Relations Officer Henry Okoye, follows a rising number of reports alleging intimidation, extortion, and harassment by officers using unofficial vehicles to evade identification while on duty.
CP Danjuma warned that any unit flouting this order will face immediate disciplinary action, and commanders of such erring teams will be held accountable under vicarious liability. The CP emphasized that the command would no longer tolerate rogue operations disguised as policing.
Residents across Owerri, Orlu, and Okigwe had in recent weeks taken to social media and local radio stations to call out disguised police patrols operating in Sienna vans, tinted buses, and even Keke tricycles—many of which reportedly extorted motorists and pedestrians under the threat of arrest.
The Imo State Police Command stressed its alignment with the Inspector-General of Police’s vision for accountable and transparent policing. It reiterated that professionalism must reflect in both conduct and appearance of its personnel across the state.
Danjuma further urged citizens to stay vigilant and report any violations of this directive via official police hotlines, promising swift response and protection for whistleblowers. He assured that the era of impunity and clandestine patrols in the state was over.
This latest crackdown comes on the heels of an earlier internal investigation ordered by the CP on July 11, after a video of an officer firing shots into the air went viral—drawing national attention and renewed scrutiny on the conduct of tactical units in Imo.
