JUDE EZEMENAKA

Recently, there has been growing mass protests across Nigeria over cases of extra judicial killings, extortion and high handedness of some police personnel. The current protests have, no doubt, revealed the heightened public disenchantment for conduct of some police personnel in recent times.

Public reactions have also dismissed the hurried replacement of SARS with Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team. While abolition of SARS may have gone a long way, a total reform of the Nigerian police, would, for sure, bring the needed transformation that would restore the trust deficit between Nigerians and their Police. Critics have even queried why the word, ‘force’ rather than ‘service’ is attached to the name of a civil law enforcement agency under a democratic system.

It is therefore worrisome that despite the constant changes in trends and times, the Nigerian police are still not in consonance with present public demands and aspirations, especially with what is obtainable with policing world over. There is therefore the need for an overhaul and restructuring of the Nigerian Police to meet the changing demands and requirements of modern day security and law enforcement.

To do this end, motivation is key. A walk through the welfare schedules of an average Nigerian policeman leaves much to be desired, especially when compared with the welfare packages of their counterparts outside Nigeria. A very worrisome video documentary had once trended of very despicable sights of a Police Training School with prospective recruits jostling for what would not have passed for a meal in an ordinary day. Sanitation and accommodation was another horror tale. One could best not imagine the mindset of an average recruit who passes through such demeaning definition of training.

Most recruits and cadets lack psychological health stability and, most often than not, manifest evidence of trauma and frustration even, right from the training grounds, with little attention paid to such concerns. Little wonder the common reports of police personnel’s venting their frustrations through the trigger at any slight provocation.

Cases of salary cuts, intimidation by superior officers, denial of certain allowances, stifled promotions and unwarranted deduction amongst etcetera are the prime unvoiced complaints of the average policeman who risks his life daily, confronting criminals and having to stay awake so that the rest of the civil population could sleep comfortably.

One shudders at a situation where personnel are asked to pay before being issued police uniforms and boots.  A situation where bail is publicly announced free but where the bail applicant is asked to either pay for bail or buy bail bonds from shops beside the police station is no doubt a norm to any visitor to the police stations.

How about a situation where the DPOs are given monthly impress of #3,500 to run a police station? Thus, they resort to extortion and road blocks to fuel their patrol vehicles and even buy candles with which to light the station at night. The police reform must also consider ways to ensure that the least policeman has no reason to get agitated when a bribe as little as fifty naira is not given.

Again, there is need for a review of the extant laws establishing the Nigerian police. First is the need to change its name and identities to signify something more community friendly. Public acceptance must start with identifying the police with new ideology and brand, different from what it presently has.

The need for laws establishing state police is long overdue as security and Crime prevention is local and so is maintaining law and order. As Nigerians continue to applaud the quick response of the IGP and the presidency in their condemnation of police misgivings all over the country, it is our prayer and hope that this measure like those before it, does not end up as a cosmetic attempts to douse public tension. An excellent police establishment is the backbone of citizen’s rights protection, law maintenance and trust.

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