At the time of writing this concluding part of the article, I observed that some of “our friends” are back on the streets of Lagos. That all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion, gender, profession and political affiliation are entitled to exercise their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution is not in doubt.
But we are duty bound to remind our police officers and men that they took an oath to serve the country. In fact, the Police Act 2020 states that police officers and men are to: “Be employed for the prevention and detection crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged, and shall perform such military duties within or outside Nigeria as may be required of them by, or under the authority of this or any other Act.” So, help them God.
It is most unfortunate that the peaceful protest across the length and breadth of the country was hijacked by rioters. It was disturbing to see the rioters loot, burn, and damage public and private assets. As a result, what started as the peaceful #EndSARS protest left the Nigeria Police Force with a deficit of 22 police personnel, and 205 police stations, according to reports.
While several other officers and men sustained life-threatening injuries, the loss of police rifles to rioters will surely worsen proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country. The pattern of attacks on police personnel, police stations and police cars particularly in the Southern part of the country gave an impression that the rioters’ main objective was to crush any personnel of the Nigeria Police Force. The losses suffered by the police are very embarrassing to the country. But that does not mean that the police should abandon its constitutional responsibilities.
As long as the trust and confidence levels remain low, the people within the community they are to protect will not cooperate with the police in situations that require enforcement and prevention.
Most Nigerians have a better idea of the crucial role the police play in the society. It is on record that the police have played active and positive roles in national development since the colonial era. Worthy of note is the involvement of the Nigeria Police in international peacekeeping operations since 1960 when police officers were deployed to then Congo (now referred to as the Democratic Republic of Congo). Since then, available records show that the Nigeria Police Force has creditably participated in several international peacekeeping missions.
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It is a common knowledge that the Nigeria police like most other institutions have some challenges. The major problem observed is that the Police in its crime prevention and control efforts lack trust and confidence. “How will policing be effective, if citizens did not have trust and confidence in their police officers,” the constitutional lawyer asked me?
As long as the trust and confidence levels remain low, the people within the community they are to protect will not cooperate with the police in situations that require enforcement and prevention. Funding is a major problem which the NPF contends with for many years.
Although governments at local, state, and federal levels have consistently provided support, it is inadequate to cater to the operational needs of the police. Individuals, and corporate organizations have donated generously to the police in a bid to ensure that we have a crime-free society. But all these efforts have not provided a conducive environment for the people.
There is acute shortage of barracks and office accommodation, there are challenges with capacity building of about 400,000 police men and women policing about 200 million Nigerians. There are reports that about 50 percent of the police workforce are with political office holders and high net worth individuals including corporate organizations, which leaves the citizens with roughly 200,000 police officers. What do we have in our society as a result of inadequate policing? all manner of crimes and criminality.
Rioters’ attacks against officers and men of the Police Force are unparalleled and historical. We ought to study what happened between 20th and 21st October 2020 in some parts of the country. What are the immediate and remote causes of the ugly incident? How did it happen and what can be done to prevent a future occurrence?
A thorough analysis of the findings will enable us know what constitute a threat against officers and men of the Police Force. We will know how to build trust and confidence between the police and the public. And most importantly, the assessment will enable the police know how it would provide better internal security services to the country. Although, the President has promised to deal with rogue elements in the Police, I need to add that the Police Force as an institution needs urgent reform.
Prof OLOGBENLA reminded me about the Peelian principles. These principles which describe the philosophy that Sir Robert Peel, former UK Home Secretary developed in 1822 to define an ethical police force state that: “Whether the police are effective is not measured by the number of arrests, but on the lack of crime.” Above all, the authority of Nigeria Police Force must remember that trust and accountability are paramount in their dealings with citizens. Hence, Peel’s most often quoted principle that “The police are the public and the public are the police,” is very apt.
The police have authority and responsibility and they are to be the most visible agent of government in a democracy. The police must occupy, not abandon their duty posts. I join other Nigerians to urge the cops to obey the IGP and go back to work immediately. In the words of a respected Nigerian security expert: “The police need to overcome its fears and return to work. Life is good. But a life of service is impactful and meaningful.”
One should not go through life without serving and without contributing his or her own part to the development of the country. Our cops may not be rewarded or remunerated as they ought to be. But their sacrifice and service to internal security demands cannot be rivaled by any other security organization if they perform their constitutional responsibilities religiously.
All said, it was very pleasing to read that the Police Force is committed to the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms of the NPF targeted at improving service delivery, positive police-citizen relationship and respect for human rights. Inadequate resourcing of the police is a challenge for effective policing in the country.
With police trust fund and new police bill, security experts believe that we may have a new improved Police Force. I do hope that our police officers and men will be a model for police forces of many countries around the world, particularly Africa.
