The Nigeria Police Force has issued a stern warning to the public against paying for bail, declaring that both the citizens who offer bribes and the officers who accept them face immediate arrest and prosecution.

The Head of the Complaint Response Unit at the Force Headquarters, Awuf Jonah, gave the warning on Friday during a public sensitisation rally in Lagos. The initiative, aimed at educating residents on reporting police misconduct, strongly reinforced the official mandate that police bail remains entirely free.

According to Jonah, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has consistently maintained a zero-tolerance policy regarding bail fees.

The Inspector-General of Police has emphasised several times that nobody is expected to pay anything whenever you or your loved ones are arrested, Jonah stated. If you pay money for any bail, the giver and the taker will be arrested and then prosecuted.

Organised by the NPF Complaint Response Unit in partnership with the Eagle Crime Awareness and Prevention Initiative, the rally seeks to rebuild public confidence and institutional accountability. The campaign commenced at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja, featuring market outreach, roadshows, and live demonstrations of the CRU’s digital complaint platforms.

Jonah noted that public complaints have already led to strict disciplinary actions against corrupt officers, resulting in a noticeable decline in misconduct. He urged citizens to actively report extortion and brutality through the unit`s dedicated hotlines, 08057000101 and 08057000102, or via WhatsApp at 08057000103.

Supporting the initiative, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Anthony Placid, representing Lagos State Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani, remarked that the advocacy comes at a critical time to strengthen community relations and intelligence sharing.

ECAPI Coordinator Eniola Adam added that the campaign will expand directly into grassroots communities and local marketplaces to ensure everyday citizens understand their legal rights and stand against impunity.