It has not been a spotless image for the Nigeria Police Force in recent times following serial allegations of incongruous behaviours.
The allegations run through the rank and file to senior officers.
Mentioning recent cases involving senior officers in high profile cases point to the fact that there are no exemptions in the class of perpetrators.
Recently, some police officers were arrested for alleged abduction and forceful transfer of N29m from the bank account of a resident and businessman in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
The incident happened sometime in January when the victim, one Mr. Gwamnishu, a businessman, alleged that he was kidnapped in Abuja by Police Officers who detained him until he transferred all the money in his bank account to them.
He alleged further that they thereafter insisted that he should call his relatives and friends to keep sending money before he could be freed.
He also alleged that he was taken away from his site where he was handling a building project without any proper complaint against him, adding that he was not asked to write a formal statement by the officers.
The receipts of the transactions were shared alongside the video in the media.
It is interesting that the Police hierarchy was said to have swiftly reacted to the incident by arresting some of the culprits.
Smarting from a poor image crises over the years, the Police authorities appear to be working hard to rewrite their past which has been soiled by sundry vices as they assured that they were making “progressive steps towards ensuring justice was served in the case”.
It is alarming that no part of the country is excluded from these impetuous police misdemeanors. Sadly, this is due partly to the rabid chase for quick wealth even as this calls to question our deteriorating moral compass.
A traveller who was fleeced of several thousands of Naira on his way out of the country cried out recently. On his way to Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos, he was reportedly stopped by policemen who held him to the point of nearly missing his flight but was fortunate as the flight was delayed for an hour. After forcing him to transfer sums of money running into several thousands of Naira to a PoS operator, he was allowed to proceed. He lost a fortune to them but they were soon trapped after he had reported to the Police authorities.
In Bayelsa State, recently, some policemen were alleged to have participated in various extortions, leading to the loss of over N10 million by some young businessmen.
The quick response of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, who swiftly condemned the activities of the officers in various states, promising a new lease for the populace across the country is commendable.
Interestingly, Egbetokun, has reiterated his zero-tolerance for corruption and police misconduct, emphasising that every allegation of extortion and abuse of power would be taken very seriously.
The IGP reassured the public that the Force will thoroughly investigate all allegations against erring officers. As part of a commitment to restorative justice, the Inspector-General “has mandated severe consequences for any officer, regardless of rank, found guilty of misconduct”, serving as a deterrent to others who might compromise the integrity of the Force.
There are concerns that some cases of inordinate behaviours by policemen are not reported for certain reasons. Lack of knowledge on the available reporting mechanisms, fear of intimidation, concerns that no actions would be taken after all, are among the reasons for this public lethargy.
There is the urgency for the Police to ensure public trust returns to its operations. As the most critical agency in internal security, the Force must exhibit a high standard of professionalism.
Police-public relations must also be enhanced beyond the current situation to further accentuate its dictum of “Police is your friend”.
Importantly, the recruitment process into the Force should be rigorous, including integrity tests such that moral decadence within the system is mitigated in the long run.
