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Nigeria: Anxiety As Criminals Battle Police

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Original Post Date: 2010-09-09 Time: 18:00:03  Posted By: News Poster

By Peter Oboh

The killing of policemen by men of the underworld is a thing of serious concern to the Nigerian public. Peter Oboh examines the trend in this report:

As fear grips Nigerians and the police force over killing of some men of the underworld a week ago, it has raised an alarm. The Nigeria Police Force, being one of the oldest institutions in Nigeria, is known for its social and civil responsibilities of keeping peace, order and tranquility in the country as one of the basic functions it owns citizens of Nigeria. Safety of lives and property are not left out on this matter.

On the basis of these, you can recall that the slogan of the force is “To protect and serve with integrity”, while that of the former inspector general of police, Mr Tafa Balogun, is “operation fire for fire”. In view of this, there is need to re-position the force to serve better. According to Thomas Edison, “I’m proud of the fact that I never invented weapons to kill”. On the contrary, the use of weapons has been abused.

Recently in Damaturu Local Government Area of Yobe State, a policeman was killed by some unknown men, whom one may describe as enemies to the force. The killing of Constable, Barde Amos on duty, has led many into a sympathetic mood in the state and it’s command.

Beside this, LEADERSHIP gathered also, that two policemen were shot down on their way to the office; this has totally become a nightmare to the police force in Borno State and its environs. One wonders the reason behind the killing of policemen in the affected areas. The deceased police officers, Shettima Mustapha and Ahmed Mohammed, were on a moving motor cycle on their way to work, when four men trailed them and shot two of them to death and went away with their weapons.

Meanwhile, LEADERSHIP investigations revealed that the suspect has been caught several times along the Borno border, where they intended to smuggle arms into the State capital. One wonders why people engage in such deadly activities that can ravage lives of fellow Nigerians. To some extent, this illegal business of arms smuggling into Nigeria has contributed to the menace of armed robbery and kidnapping, amongst others. Those who spoke on the matter expressed their view by saying the Boko Haram crisis is part of the ingredient that contributed to the killing of policemen in the Northern area.

LEADERSHIP findings, further revealed that weeks ago, suspected members of Boko Haram were to be on reprisal attacks on policemen, because some of their men were arrested by the police last year due the said crises. The best security against revolution is constant correction of abuses and the introduction of needed improvements. For Nigeria, however, to meet international level on development, the issue of attacking and killing of security agents over religion and tribal issues has to be stopped. Our security is very important in a period like this, when we are preparing for another general election. Therefore, Nigerians are advised to do the right thing, at the right time.

Further findings by LEADERSHIP, disclosed that arms smuggling into Nigeria has increased the rate of crime in our state. Invariably, this has led to the killings of security agents like the police, immigration, custom, SSS and military among others. When such suspects are arrested, you find out weapons recovered from them range between AK-47 to rockets, pistols and machine guns. Sometimes, there’s face-to-face gun battle between robbers and the security agents.

According to Gilbert Moses, in an interview in Abuja, “our Nigeria Police are not friends to the society; they are there to protect, though, sometimes they engage in activities that are unethical to lives of citizens of this country.” He said one of the reasons why policemen are attacked by criminals is not just because the police fight them in crime, but because some of the police have interpersonal relationships with these criminals. Some conduct arms business with them and in the process of business, they may have misunderstanding between themselves. Meanwhile, today you can find a policeman putting on additional wears on top of his or her uniform to safeguard oneself, while walking along the way. The reason behind this is to protect his life against attack by enemies described as men of the underworld.

Victor Okon when interviewed by LEADERSHIP poured out his mind saying the police should take good example from other security bodies in Nigeria. He said the attack of policemen in Nigeria is becoming a thing of fear that has gripped so many Nigerians, explaining that the police cannot remain the security body that is usually attacked by criminals in Nigeria. He advised police to stop extortion of money on our roads and obey the law that says bail is free, adding that with this, police will gain respect from the general public they serve.

However, those who also spoke on the issue stressed the need for the Nigeria Police to organise workshops and seminars to orient and educate members of the force, saying this will go a long way in stopping the menace of corrupt practices by some officers. According to him, this will eventually bring back their lost glory and integrity. “One expects the appropriate authorities of the police to continue in training officers.

On this note, the police is expected to continue in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, and also bring the bad eggs in the force to book.

Original date published: 9 September 2010

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201009090454.html?viewall=1