By Yemi Akinsuyi

You are under arrest but there is no handcuff to tame you, the police officer may be forced to announce to a suspect soon. This is because, despite official denial, the police force has been hit by a shortage of the cold metal usually used to restrain violent suspects.

The police are already facing problems of inadequate logistics and equipment. Now it’s a drought of handcuffs.
The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer (DFPRO), Mr. Yemi Ajayi, told THISDAY there were enough handcuffs but that officers and men had been warned against indiscriminate use of the security gadget.
But senior police officers who spoke to THISDAY off the record said handcuff shortage had become a big headache as they seek to discharge their duties.

A Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja Command, said his division “has very few handcuffs and that in case there is emergency, my officers and men will be handicapped”.
The DPO explained that because handcuffs are metal, they rust easily.
“Since many of the ones given to my division are now bad, no replacement has been made so far,” he said.
The story is told of a police officer who arrested a criminal suspect, took him to the station and started asking for a pair of handcuffs frantically to no avail.

But the lack of handcuffs is not the only thing tying the hand of the police - even arms and ammunition could be scarce to come by too.
“It is not everything happening in the force that we can be discussing freely. If I tell you that we have just few communication gadgets in my division, will you believe?” a DPO said.

He added that his division does not have up to 20 per cent of arms and ammunition needed to fight crime in the area.
“How do you expect it to have enough handcuffs? I can’t say categorically how many handcuffs we have presently, but I can tell you that we don’t have up to six for the whole division. Until we stop deceiving ourselves and start telling the world the whole truth, it will take miracle to fight crimes and criminality in the country. I have written and written to the authorities to no avail. In fact, I think we should even thank God that we still have some arms and ammunition in the office. Some divisions are fighting crimes with almost their bare hands. This is not supposed to be so,” he lamented.
Another DPO in the South-western part of the country said although the state governor had done well in supplying logistics needed to fight crime, there was still a long way to go.

“Our governor has tried very hard in providing necessary equipment and logistics for the command but it is not enough. If the police high command could contribute their own quota to the development of crime fighting in the state, everybody should then go home to sleep with their two eyes closed. In my division, we have some handcuffs, I think up to like 13, but this is not still enough, putting into consideration the volatile nature of the state. We need more equipment to work effectively,” he said.
Handcuffs are specifically for violent criminals.
But they are also instruments of intimidation and humiliation, as innocent citizens will recount.
Tayo, a fresh graduate, said he had a little misunderstanding with his landlord, who in turn promised to “deal” with him.
“I was at home in the evening of the unfortunate day. It was on a Sunday. I had earlier gone to church and when I came back, I was tired. I managed to eat light food and after taking some malaria drugs, I slept off. Suddenly, I heard a loud bang on my door and in a jiffy, some heavily armed men in mufti had entered my apartment. They slapped, kicked, and even one of them threatened to shoot me at close range. All I could ask for was that these men should spare my life because I thought they were armed robbers,” he said.
Not until he was handcuffed did he know that they were policemen sent to “deal” with him by his landlord.

“Right from our house to the police station which is about two kilometres, I was led by these policemen and handcuffed like a common criminal. At the station, I was only told to apologise to my landlord and ‘grease’ the palm of the policemen. I was not asked to write any statement, neither was I told my offence but warned never to disrespect my landlord again. I left the policemen in the hands of God for divine judgement and also the landlord with his conscience,” he said.
Ajayi, in denying claims of handcuff shortage, said unlike before when policemen handcuffed citizens at the slightest offence, anyone caught in the act would be made to face the music.

“Based on the complaints of indiscriminate use of handcuffs, the police high authority had warned officers and men against such and that is why it seems as if police no longer have it. We are just being mature in handling issues that have to do with humans and I think the Nigeria Police deserve applause for this,” he said.
They would get an applause even from an arrested criminal. After all, his hands are not tied.

Tags: Nigeria, Featured, News

Lol. Somebody been playing freaky at home with police handcuffs

I laugh in Ewe. Lord God have mercy

Lol. Somebody been playing freaky at home with police handcuffs

naaaaa Since, awon big boys bn' tying and handcuffing their chicks, babes and spare ribs, as per intimate innuendo,

but no one is surely going to risk using Nija Police handcuffs oooo, make the thing no go jam/refuse to unlock  na yawa be dat.

Negro_Ntns:

Lol. Somebody been playing freaky at home with police handcuffs

rotflmao. U av a dirty mind.

Negro_Ntns:

Lol. Somebody been playing freaky at home with police handcuffs

No wonder there is shortage of handcuffs since virtually most of the policemen will have to get one for themselves. . .their wives don die !

This is damn, they should start using rope

odiaero:

This is damn, they should start using rope

Without any resistance from a suspect,all he needs is just a razor blade to cut the rope.Left for me,I'd have recommened barbed wire.

There are dozens of companies that can supply handcuffs and other security equipment. The police should just place a tender for all they need, the funds will be made available if the government is serious about fighting crime. No need to come to the press and tell all.

The police in the western world use these as hand cuffs, they are called cable ties. they are not expensive.

Why are they Complaining?? They prayed daily to nab Criminals, now they are surrounded by Criminals. So

is dis good news or bad news??

na wah ooo abeg all this husbands contribute una own o

<quote>
Without any resistance from a suspect,all he needs is just a razor blade to cut the rope.Left for me,I'd have recommened barbed wire.
</quote>

Ah Bluetooth, barbed wire ke? Thank God you are not the IG of Police, human rights group for sue Nigeria.

Wetin concern me, mtcheeeeeew

Bawss1:

There are dozens of companies that can supply handcuffs and other security equipment. The police should just place a tender for all they need, the funds will be made available if the government is serious about fighting crime. No need to come to the press and tell all.

Abi oh, or they should have called a conference of their constituents, professional and part-time baddies to announce their predicament. Can't even buy N 50 straps. Think they need to place cranial inspection and replacement in those tenders too.
As for arms and ammunition they need less not more. My goodness what have they done with those they have beyond hurt.

Since when has the NPF have handcuffs, looking at most criminals brought to police stations or courts they hardly have handcuffs on them.

This is not breaking news.

Arosa:

The police in the western world use these as hand cuffs, they are called cable ties. they are not expensive.

Seconded,but only for suspects arrested for minor offences

They should get the damned cuffs for the other suspects.190,born2fuck and other bondage freaks should stop hoarding 'em damned cuffs

If handcuffs are like guns that will b used to shoot innocent Nigerians, they should have ordered for it since

No wonder!i saw some groups of suspected criminals been tied with their shirt.they better try super glue av least is 20 naira.and they can use one for 3 people.if they know how to manage.

blacksmith! show me ur "panda!"

did they ever have handcuffs?

is this not africa, niger! the police do not need hand cuffs anymore. lets go back to the odden days where they use 'akaba, afaseyin, gbetugbetu and mayeun' to arrest criminals. in case NPF and FG yeild to my advice, call me the supply.

folahann:

I laugh in Ewe. Lord God have mercy

, i laugh in boko.

All these I laugh in various languages wey i never hear before, I hope it is not madness. Btw, most of the handcuffs should be in psychiatric hospitals to restrain people like you. Mad people are more dangerous than ncriminals and there is one on the loose here on NL

Nigeria-the hub of comedy.

I dey laff.

chelseabmw:

No,High Tension Wires is better

High tension ke ? Sooner or later,Naija police go start to vandalize Phcn wires be that. .more darkness to the masses

With the level of corruption especially in the top hierarchy of the Nigerian police force and the government its no surprise. i dey laff in swahili!!!

Negro_Ntns:

Lol. Somebody been playing freaky at home with police handcuffs

Hahaha

they should borrow handcuffs from the Lords resistance Army for the main time,