The rejuvenating of the Nigeria Police
1THE Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has recently put forth innovations aimed at improving the social strata of the Nigeria Police Force. Over the years, the police has placed on bill-boards at various commands and police stations, the slogan “Police is your friend” and this is meant to draw the public closer to the police. The rejuvenation of the force by IGP Arase has become imperative in view of the fact that globally, security forces are adopting modern trends in crime fighting.
But how has this eighteen worded slogan impacted as a bridge between the people and the police?
The personnel of the Nigeria Police organization, however, come from within the same Nigerian people. The public regard that slogan as mere rhetoric and views it with disdain. Over the years, the public, especially commercial motorists and other private commuters, seemed to have been punched to the ropes by some unscrupulous police personnel who force- fully demand for some “little monies” from such commuters. Most times, refusal on the part of such commuters to dish out this gratification results in scuffles with the police and the resultant effect is the shooting of the innocent commuter.
Previous police hierarchy had done everything possible to improve the psyche of police personnel who carry arms and go after criminally-minded persons of the society but most times some overzealous police officers turn out to harm innocent citizens. It is based on some of these short- comings that the current police man- agement team is working round the clock to bring about the necessary reforms in the police.
Incidentally, the 18th indigenous police Inspector-General, Solomon Arase, determined to revamp police image and leave a lasting legacy for the police force, leaves no stone unturned to churn out innovations from the eighteen worded slogan “PO- LICE IS YOUR FRIEND”. In the public eye, the police which is the security organization closest to the people had seemingly turned out to be the people’s enemy due to the unscrupulous behaviours of some bad eggs within the force. To stem this tide, IGP Arase has come up with the slogan “NO MORE IMPUNITY” and a unit to checkmate the excesses of some police personnel has been unveiled by the IGP. Known as “CRU” i.e. of the public to lodge complaints against erring police personnel.
To facilitate easy access to the “CRU” the officer in-charge of the unit, Chief Superintendent, of Police (CSP) Abayomi Shogunle, indicated that aggrieved members of the public do not need physical presence at police formations to lodge their complaints.
Such could be done through plat- forms such as BBM, WhatsApp, facebook, e-mail, twitter, SMS and voice calls. For the WhatsApp and SMS the “CRU” has placed forth 08057000003 for reach-out and for voice calls, 08057000001 and 08057000002. The facebook com- plaint platform is www.facebook. com/npf complaint. The BBM Pin is 58A2B5DE and the Twitter is @ police NG-CRU whilst the e-mail is complaint@npf.gov.ng and npfcomplaint@gmail.com.
Specially trained personnel from the Force Criminal Investigating Department, (FCID), the Special Intel- ligence Bureaux (SIB) and from the Force Provost Marshal department will handle all cases flooding the ‘CRU’. While launching the newly created complaint outfit, IGP Solomon Arase indicated that the unit will take full advantage of ICT and social media platform to interface with the public and the police are poised to promptly address complaints received from the public and give feed- back on actions taken. IGP Arase appreciated the efforts of the British Government’s Justice for all CLEEN foundation and Techno phones, Lagos Nigeria in making the ‘CRU’ project a reality.
There is no doubt that operatives of the various Special Anti-Robbery squads nationwide promptly respond to distress calls anytime of the day to crime scenes to prevent or res- cue victims of crime. But such personnel most times dash-out to such crime scenes unprotected and wearing shabby clothes some tying head-gears that could not be differentiated from thugs.
In line with his ardent desire to reform the Nigeria Police Force along- side the yearnings of Mr. President and the desire of Nigerians for a people-oriented police, IGP Arase recently launched a rebranded special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The dress-code of operatives of the SARS has to conform with modern technologies and appear civil to the members of the public they are to protect. The rebranding, according to IGP Arase, will be in phases since the personnel have to be re-kitted, refocused and re- equipped.
The weapon profile of the SARS, according to IGP Arase, has to be re- viewed towards the engagement of less lethal weapon system such as electro muscular disruption technology (Taser or Stun Guns). This will reduce lethal weapons by the SARS operatives. To achieve these goals of the IGP, the enabling authorities must make adequate funds available to the Nigeria Police Force.
Most times we hear of re-equipping the police from government sources but this does not come to pass. The police needs functional helicopters in all the 36 zonal commands in the country for aerial surveillance in view of the increasing sophistication of armed criminals. The intelligence sector of the force has to be re-invigorated for optimal performance. For IGP Arase, no stone will be left unturned for the current reforms he has embarked upon.
*Musa, a crime analyst, writes from Abuja.
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