The Oyo State chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC) has accused the Oyo State Police Command of engaging in unlawful arrests, extortion and acts of brutality, urging the authorities to immediately halt what it described as illegal practices.
In a press statement issued recently and signed by Chairman of the AAC in Oyo State, Kayode Babyomi,.the party expressed “deep concern” over what it called excessive and unconstitutional actions by officers of the command, including charging citizens for bail and harassing residents.
According to the AAC, there has been a noticeable rise in such incidents since the #EndSARS protests, which drew global attention to police misconduct in Nigeria. The party stressed that the rule of law and the fundamental rights of citizens must be respected at all times.
“Citizens should be able to move freely without fear of harassment and intimidation by law enforcement officers,” the statement read, adding that while residents of Oyo State are largely law-abiding, the police must avoid enforcing unlawful directives.
The party warned that continued alleged abuses by the command could provoke public resistance. “If these illegal activities by the Oyo Police Command continue, the people will not hesitate to resist them by all means necessary,” it stated.
The AAC also called on the Commissioner of Police to act responsibly and ensure that officers operate strictly within the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It emphasised that policing should serve the people rather than oppress them.
The statement further condemned the practice of demanding payment for bail, insisting that the widely displayed “bail is free” notice at police stations must be upheld in practice and not merely serve as decoration.
Additionally, the party urged Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) across the state to properly train and supervise their personnel to prevent misconduct, warning against a repeat of alleged abuses similar to those associated with the controversial “Tiger Base.”
The AAC encouraged victims of police brutality, harassment or extortion to report incidents to the party’s state chapter or the Oyo State Take It Back movement.
