In the last couple of weeks or more, the heat has been on the Nigeria Police; but with particular reference on the activities of the infamous Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) which led to protests by youths demanding for a reform of the institution. If anything, one would think that among the rank and file, there is none that is sane and fit for the job.

Well, the truth is that many think they are so corrupt that everything about the institution is odoriferous and ranks to high heavens. Indeed, many have warned that if you have anything to do with the police, you may well need a meter long rope to engage them; otherwise, you may come out wounded.

This reporter is aware of several instances which may have given the signal that all is not well with the police. On the other hand, if you are told of the exploits of many of its officers and men, chances are that you may conclude that you have just returned from a different planet, where things are done using world’s best practices.

Despite entreaties from several people my elder brother had refused to join the Nigeria police as cadet ASP in 1984 upon graduation from the University of Jos as a Sociologist. A school mate of his, who upon leaving the university the same year is today a commissioner. His story is a study in humility. I am not sure of what my brother saw then, but I am aware his refusal may not be unconnected with the general malfeasance that has been associated with the institution over the years.

I have come across police officers in the course of work that one was tempted to ask if they are not in the wrong place. Anything involving them turns out to be the opposite of what the police officer many have met on several occasions has been associated with. My general assessment of them is to conclude that, in all manner of human endeavours, there are good and bad eggs. It is the bad ones that have certainly given the institution a bad name which many have sought to hang all of them.

Over the years, road users have had to complain about alleged misdemeanors of policemen; to the point that many have said they demand for as low as N20 as settlement fee. The creation of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in 1992 gradually sow the seed of brutality for which many families are still living with the pains inflicted on their members. ‘It is very disheartening that a good initiative meant to assist the police effectively and efficiently crack down on hardened criminals and notorious armed robbers has unfortunately been hijacked by crooks in the police’.

Clearly abdicating from the original intensions of its founders, the SARS soon became a terror of some sort, baring its fangs on all categories of Nigerians. In the process, the innocent, the not too innocent as were the criminals came under their heavy boots; and the complaints gradually grew in intensity and character; until in October 2020, when the roof came crashing on them.

The uproar about their activities was initially thought as one which will soon die, but, trust Nigerians, they have had enough; and they were determined to end their reign of terror. Soon the campaign bug to end SARS became pronounced, and rightly so, the youths enthusiastically embraced and gave it the needed verve for its execution through massive protests across the states. The world soon realized it was a movement whose time was rife and needed the tacit support of all men and women of goodwill to make it succeed, if we wanted a people’s police in the land.

We have not had a people’s police in Nigeria, as it has not been fully complemented with the right budgetary allocations. They are paid pittance, and overburdened by a large population needing as much as three times or even more of their present number to adequately police Nigeria. The police don’t have equipment, and sadly, most times suspects and or their family members are made to pay for certain things to be procured before the case is looked into. Ordinary papers and pens are said to be required and brought before a suspect’s statement; in fact it is so bad that it is alleged that when these materials are not provided you may be delaying your day of judgment.

That being the case, there might be a high propensity to deny justice and give it to the highest bidder. This explains why policemen are said to engage in activities that may bring them extra cash, since the state does not carter for them. The ‘sins’ of the state is visited on suspects who are made to cough money to ensure they work. It is perhaps the reason for some of the lapses seen in the officers; and for which Nigerians have continued to express disgust at their services.

The questions to ask are: Even in the palpable lapses, have the police served the nation creditably? Could we in honesty vouchsafe for them and even when they are outside our shores discharging their duties? Having we condemned enough as to discredit them during international assignments, and for Nigeria not to be considered?

That would have been it however; it has not distracted them from proving their mettle when they are called to duty at such international assignments. Only recently a certain CSP Catherine Ugorji boosted the image of Nigeria’s involvement in international peace keeping operations. The officer who is serving with the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was selected by the UN as one of the two runners-up for the prestigious UN Woman Police Officer of the year award for 2020.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, said Ugorji exemplifies the best of UN policing in words and action. The UN said 1,300 UN policewomen were deployed to its peacekeeping operations and out of which twenty-one were nominated for the award. The award was presented during a virtual ceremony presided by Lacroix Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Ugorji joined the Nigerian Police in 2003 and served as Criminal Investigator from the local to the regional level, Child Protection Officer, Divisional Crime Officer up to Acting Deputy Commander of the Ogudu Police Division in Lagos.

Luis Carrilho, UN Police Advisor said, ‘Catherine has introduced tactical operations that have been instrumental in reducing crime in the area, in support of the Malian security forces and the host population. In addition to this very demanding role, Chief Superintendent Ugorji has worked diligently to improve living conditions for women police officers so they can serve safely and with dignity.

After the dust of the protests had settled, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu debunked accusations by Amnesty International that policemen shot at #EndSARS protesters. He described the report as untrue, misleading and contrary to all available ’empirical evidences’.

However, contrary to the above position, sadly it is common knowledge that 22 of his men “paid the ultimate price, maintaining utmost restraint” during the protests, while 205 police stations were torched by protesters nationwide, even when “officers of the Force used legitimate means to ensure that the protests were carried out in a peaceful manner.”

The police insisted that in most cases, policemen physically protected and walked side-by-side with the protesters. “Even when the protests turned violent in some parts of the country, the officers still maintained utmost restraint and did not use excessive force in managing the situations”.

There were painful deaths of police officers and their family members. The police were killed in various painful ways. The aggressors are the army of rampaging protesters who despite the fact that they were protesting rightly vented their frustration on the police and their barracks. The police, if we must know are also human beings that are equally entitled to the protection of their fundamental rights and dignity of human person’.

Police officers are also human beings equally entitled to the protection of their fundamental rights to life and dignity of human person’.

On January 5, 2019 in Mogadishu, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) honoured a contingent of Nigerian police officers for exemplary service. The 159 officers, who were part of the AMISOM’s Formed Police Unit (FPU), were awarded medals and certificates at a colourful ceremony presided over by Maj. Gen. Fidza Dludlu, the AMISOM Head of Mission Support.

The officers were described as true ambassadors of Nigeria and the African Union, saying the contingent excelled in its role of providing operational support to the Somali Police Force (SPF). “AMISOM is pleased to note that while performing these duties the members of this unit have been exemplary, diligent, committed and dedicated in their selfless service to humanity and attainment of peace and security in Somalia’.

Since 1960 Nigeria has been an active participant in UN peacekeeping missions, deploying military contingents, unarmed military observers, military staff officers, formed police units, police advisors and civilian experts to over 25 UN missions. 

When the country started to experience serious domestic security challenges, which indeed affected ‘the country’s ability to sustain its troop contribution to peace operations, troops are increasingly deployed to trouble spots across Nigeria, most especially in the Northeast which is heavily affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. In fact, the need to tackle the Boko Haram menace was the main reason given by the Nigerian federal government for the postponement of the recently concluded general elections in Nigeria by six weeks from February 14 and 28, to March 28 and April 11. The insecurity caused by Boko Haram is also the reason for the establishment of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) which is expected to fight the militant group in northeastern Nigeria and its border regions’.

What we have pointed out is that all of us have contributed in making our police drop to the level of hatred. But it is possible for the reform to take place if we desire to. There is no way our police is praised to high heavens abroad and vilified back home.