By: Segun Akinleye
When news filtered in that our dear country, Nigeria, is ranked 127 out of the 127 countries in the World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI), then you and I both know that things are not so well with the Nigeria Police Force – no matter your standpoint about the agency.
World Internal Security & Police Index (WISPI) is composed of many indicators and a wide range of qualitative and quantitative data intended to rank countries according to states of internal security. The index also measures the ability of police institutions worldwide to render effective security services as well as measuring public’s confidence in such services; rates on fear of crime; rates of crime victims and the indicators of police operations and activities.
Part of the index of the rankings is, professionalism, effectiveness and overall quality –- the three core values conspicuously missing from our men in Blue/Black.
There is no gainsaying that a lot of Nigerians have lost faith in the agency primarily charged with the maintenance of law and order and the protection of lives and property of Nigerians.
The message should hit home harder since it is coming from an outside – a voice louder than the ignored cries of millions of Nigerians about the many atrocities of some members of the police.
On 6th November 2017, the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force set up to address the impunity of its members released a 2017 Third Quarter Report (Q3 July-September) on its successes so far.
According to some of the highlights of the report, a total sum of N834, 000.00 (eight hundred and thirty-four thousand Naira) obtained illegally have been recovered from its men and 16 officers sanctioned. The unit also recorded a total of 734 complaints in the Q3, of which 652 (86%) were resolved, 5 (1%) false/unrelated and 107 (14%) are still under investigation.
This is no doubt an encouraging statistics, but overall, a tiny drop of water in the ocean of the many unprofessional conducts that even the Force itself claims to sanction.
LACK OF PREOFESSIONALISM
On 19th, October 2017, the Guardian Newspaper carried a story with the headline “Task Force Operatives raid Ikotun, Harass Passerby’ on the raid carried out on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal. There is nothing unusual about carrying out raids, especially in areas believed to be ‘hot spots’. What was unprofessional about the said raid was the maltreatment, beating and eventual arrest of well-dressed people returning from work on that fateful day. Eyewitnesses gave their terrifying accounts of how the men acted like the hoodlums they were trying to arrest.
Something similar happened on Saturday, July 15, 2017, exactly a week to the Lagos State Local government and Councillorship elections in the state. Men of the Nigeria Police Force stormed Ifako-Ijaiye local government area around 3: 00 pm in the afternoon, picking people off the streets. The insanity in this particular raid was that it took place on a weekend, when people were home or at social events. Innocent people were picked on the streets in broad daylight, forced into the Black Marias, despite pleas of innocence. Some even tried showing means of identification, but it all fell on the deaf ears of our ‘friends in uniform’.
On 19th, August 2017, the Punch Newspaper also carried a story with the headline “Police raids turn money-making ventures, as SARS men abduct, extort at will’. The story centered on many innocent Nigerians who have been brutalized by men of the Police Force. Notable amongst them was the sad story of Usman Owonifari, who was left fighting for his life as a result of the severe beatings he received.
The incessant harassment by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is another major cause of concern. Various reports of harassments have flooded social media and in some cases, how unarmed civilians have been shot at. The Nigeria Police Force has failed to address this issue and these men are emboldened more back the lack of proactive measures by the agency.
Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for the ‘Right to Privacy’ of citizens of the country. This provision encompasses the privacy of the person (i.e. from unwarranted incursions into physical, emotional and personal attributes); the sanctity of homes and property (i.e. from unauthorized searches or trespasses); and the protection of correspondence and conversations from being intercepted or diverted, but these uniform extortionists are above the law. Young men and in some reported cases, women, are forced to open their phones while they go through the various contents.
On 5th January 2016, the former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase banned the illegal search of phones without a search warrant from a competent court with jurisdiction, but men of SARS and other police commands, out of greed, have failed to comply.
EFFECTIVENESS
The manner in which the Police Force have approached the case of the popular kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (also known as Evans), is a major cause for concern.
After busting his kidnap ring and obtaining his many confessions, the delay in charging him to court is now proving costly. Remember, the police turned him into a celebrity, posing for pictures with him.
The many unresolved high profile murder cases are another pointer to the lack of effectiveness by the police. The investigations into the deaths of Funsho Williams and Bola Ige have met brick walls and nothing is being said again.
We can still recall the instances how criminals escape from the cells is some police stations. Effectiveness to them might mean brutalizing, extorting citizens and in most cases, maiming them.
OVERALL QUALITY
Without mincing words, the overall quality of the Nigeria Police Force is not impressive and there is a need for more improvement if things are to change for good. A visit to most police stations in the country will give you an insight into the types of people charged with securing the lives of the people.
The PCRRU is a laudable initiative, but as pointed out, a lot still needs to be done. There is an urgent need to change the perception of Nigerians about the police and the men are making it more and more difficult. How do you see a man who picks you up on the street for doing nothing, roughens you up and demands a certain amount from you as your friend?
The WISPI rating should be a wake-up call to those in charge of affairs to step up their efforts in truly rebranding and turning the police force to the friend Nigerians need it to be.
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