The police force in any country embodies the most visible symbol of governmental authority and also constitutes the point of attack or criticism of the government. In other words, the attitude of police officers could discredit not only the Force image but also the government it represents and possibly subject it to opprobrium.
The police force in any country embodies the most visible symbol of governmental authority and also constitutes the point of attack or criticism of the government. In other words, the attitude of police officers could discredit not only the Force image but also the government it represents and possibly subject it to opprobrium.
This truism is the essential reason the members of the Force in every society are expected to comport themselves in a civilized and socially acceptable manner; albeit in Nigeria where we oftentimes observe some aberrations in policing. The ban placed on road blocks and the not too long certificate verification instituted by the police hierarchy led by the Inspector General of police, Mr. M.D Abubakar to sanitize the police force are commendable efforts and initiatives, but sadly they have failed to yield the desired result.
However, it must be noted that the majority of police officers especially the rank and files in our society do not live the ethos of their profession; thereby bringing the police force and government to ridicule and public odium. It is abhorrent to say the least, that a police officer whose statutory obligation among other things is primarily to arrest and prosecute lawbreakers and criminals will be seen publicly fraternizing with them. Little wonder the crime rate has risen astronomically and criminals more often than not walk the streets with impunity.
Those who are conversant with Ikeja environs will agree with me that Ikeja along the road bus stop, Ikeja under bridge near General hospital, Ipodo market, Oritse Street, up to the street opposite airport hotels, off Obafemi Awolowo Way have become a Mecca of sort for Cannabis or India hemp hawkers/ smokers. Most worrisome is the fact that this outlawed substance is displayed and smoked in the broad daylight with impunity by street urchins in company of some mobile police officers in uniform.
I was shocked to the marrows to see police officers in uniforms condescend so low to the embarrassing extent of smoking weed in the company of such class of people under the scorching sun unabashed. No wonder stories abound of police officers sometimes pulling the trigger on hapless civilians on little provocations. Nigeria police officers need to be called to order. It seems most of them are yet to come to terms with their enormous responsibilities.
They should be made to realize that the police are charged with very many difficult duties which relates mainly to the maintenance of law and order and the security of the state. These duties are imposed on them by law and any abdication constitutes an offence and punishable under the Nigeria law. The Nigeria Police Force is beleaguered simply because of their inaction and/or dilatory in combating crime; flaws which could be attributed to the compromise of principle and/or integrity by the rank and files on the road.
The police authorities cannot claim ignorant of the actions of some of their men on the road. The road blocks are gradually returning. They are common scenes at Egbeda precisely Ogunlana/Aderele junction, Cele roundabout and Dopemu roundabout. The unprofessional and uncivilized way they harassed motorists at night will make a first time visitor mistake them for armed robbers or touts.
Those that ply Falomo Bridge, Ahmmadu Bello way, Bonny camp and Oniru, Victoria Island at night can also attest to the clumsy attitude of these men in black. Most of them usually wore muftis on bathroom slippers. And in most cases you’ll see some brandishing bottles of dry gin. I don’t know when it has become legal for police officers to drink themselves to stupor while on duty. Once a motorist is flagged down, the upsetting question they commonly asked is, “Oga wetin you get for us,” without exhibition of professionalism.
If it were an exotic, Porsche or other expensive cars; the embarrassing manner with which the police officers will kowtow to the occupant(s) will make you feel sorry for the entire Force. Standing attention, they will shamelessly shout, “money sir! Your boys’ dey road dey roasts oooO! Baba Agba! We dey loyal no be small ooO! Undermining who the occupants of the car were or what might be in their possession; once some cash exchanged hands, they are free to go.
The consequences of this shameful act are that lawbreakers, kidnappers, criminals, gun runners, smugglers and ritual killers have oftentimes circumvented arrest by parting with some substantial amount of money to these police officers whose interest are on money instead of the collective security of the society, which they are mandated by law to protect. It is repulsive to say the least that the efforts of the Inspector General of Police to rid the police force of bad eggs are daily being sabotaged by some disgruntled elements in the Force.
Like T.A Critchley rightly said, “Total freedom is anarchy and total order is tyranny”. My submission is that the rank and files in the police force have enjoyed total freedom and are gradually slipping towards anarchy. They must be subjected to checks and balances. I therefore maintain that one of the tasks facing the government is to continue to improve the quality of our country’s policemen and since we cannot dispense with them; all hands must be on deck to make them as humanitarian, effective and responsive to the society’s needs as possible as we can. So help us God!
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of SaharaReporters
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