POLICE: OUR FRIEND OR FIEND?



Like their motto reads: “The Police are your friends”, this is the inscription you will find all over each Police stations in the country. But if you ask around you, about how friendly the police are in their various localities, the answers you will record might just be different to what their motto reads.

The idea of a police force has been conceived centuries ago, when lawless acts were committed everywhere; but it was only in the 19th century that effectual steps were taken to build up a strong police force in almost every country. Life, before the introduction of the police, was indeed insecure. Violent acts such as murder were committed with impunity by cruel and reckless men. Even those who were weak and feared revenge by stronger men nevertheless found it safe sometimes to commit lesser crime such as theft and robbery.

The police force is fashioned to play vital role in the maintenance of law and order in the society. It is a source of moral strength, confidence and happiness to all individual who seek to live a good life in a society.

In recent days, contrary to the aforementioned and supposed functions of the police in the society, is what we get. The society has virtually gone back to the dark days that led to the emergence of this institution; where cruel acts take place on daily basis and violence gradually being incorporated as norm in various communities. The police, who we ought to look up to as the last resort of criminal activities; are even the ones who do accomplice evil act in the society.

 At times I do question the reasoning level of some officers and wonder how they scale through some logic and reasoning test, if they ever had one before been recruited into the force. Countless are the ordeals of people who I tend to question on this issue. Our society is now so volatile; you can never know what the next scene and act will unfold. If you have never gone through test of ownership by the police, then you are lucky to have your bragging right unchecked; where you need to take along with you the receipt of every gadget you possess; from phone to laptop and the likes.

Our country is the only place where the police must not visit your home and find out you own personal gadgets (laptop, desktop or printer), the first thing that runs through their mind is: “the guy na yahoo-yahoo”. A cousin once shared his experience with the police while coming back from the club. As usual, was stopped at one of their illegal checking point: not drunk or driving recklessly and its dawn already at 5a.m. He said they asked for his document, which he presented rightly and after that they did one or two checking; only for one of the officers to request for money. But he felt like what is he paying for? Then one of them answered him: “you better find something drop now, or else if we carry you go station, we go explain to them say na una distract us from our duty, to let the rest of una gang operate for another area”.

Can you imagine what would have happen, if they had nothing on them to bail themselves out of the evil snare? And do you know how many people would have fell victim of such trap in the hands of those who we entrust with our security?

Besides, the respect and honour the society accord to the police is much, yet they don’t reciprocate it in service to the people. Even the motorists do give any of their staff free ride to any destination; but in turn, they still hunt them down to collect certain fee from them, maybe we should tag that “road tithe”. Their gesture in the society spells out the fact that they prioritize their pocket over national service. If you visit any police station to report any case of concern to you; they will either directly or indirectly put it to you to tip some certain officers to galvanise swift response.

No sooner than the previous Inspector General of Police [Mohammed Abubarkar] (retired) left office, the scraped “Checking Point” during his administration resurrected. The checking points that we have all over the areas does not mean the police are security conscious of the sinister that roam about or with intention to curb it, but an avenue for them to make extra-allowance to what then earn on daily basis.

For quite sometimes now, there have been couple of debates in both the lower and upper chambers of the legislative arm of the government, over the introduction of state police which is yet to get a stand. It is more of a laughable matter, because the police force has a single institution been manage by the federal government it’s still clouded by different challenges; not to talk about creating a state owned and controlled police force. An example of problems the country will likely encounter if they eventually permit the conception of state force, is what we experience in Lagos state between the state road manager (LASTMA) and the police force/Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC); over who is suppose to man the road, be it state or federal road within the metropolis.

Above and beyond,  amidst recent insurgency facing our country, hooliganism and cult activities within neighbourhood, we can only say the safety of ourselves and our environment are beyond the Iron Gate we construct at the entrance of our door post; not even in the hands of those whom we ought to have looked up to as friend (police).

This piece is only written to correct every form of anomalous in our society but not for any Ad hominem against any individual, group or institution. We need to reshape things that are growing unstructured.

“I am concerned for the society of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within” -Douglas MacArthur


olawaleamerin..com/?m=1

As harsh as it might sound. The Nigeria police should be held accountable for destroying the meaning of friendship. Though when an army officer slaps you, you go know say police na your friend..

am coming back as soon as i no what to comment