The Nigeria Police Force, led by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, has been engaged in combating crimes afflicting the Nigerian society. Apart from waging increasing battles against kidnappers and dare-devil robbers in several parts of the country, the Force under Idris has continued to turn itself into an effectual anchor against criminal activities and safeguarding the nation from criminals. Little wonder that the police have continued to attain giant strides as they contain rising criminal activities of undesirable elements. Considering the need to boost the morale of its officers and men, the police have left no stone unturned to reward gallant members whose valour is taking the crime-busting organisation to astounding height of unprecedented success.

Recently, following the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and diversion of flights to Kaduna Airport, the police have deployed no fewer than 350 of their men along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway to ensure security of passengers. This also includes aerial surveillance by the police and also engagement of relevant stakeholders for peaceful co-existence. The deployment of Special Forces in Southern Kaduna by the police has led to the lessening of tension and bringing peace to the violence-torn zone that has been a source of conflicts between herders and farmers. The visit of the IG to the area and the successful release of two Germans archeologists who were recently kidnapped by bandits have shown that a new dawn is by the corner. The role of the police in Kaduna State has been commendable, considering the level of insecurity that once enveloped the entire state. With the police engaged in conversation with relevant stakeholders, the atmosphere of tension is gradually giving way to mutual peace and resolve by various communities to live together in peace. In recognition of the new vigour demonstrated by the sterling leadership of IGP Idris in the police, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has commended the Force for its renewed vision in securing lives and property.

Since the beginning of 2017, the IGP Idris-led police have come up with effective strategies in tackling the wave of crime in the country. When on January 27, 2017 some gunmen invaded an Owerri court to free Henry Chibueze, a robbery kingpin popularly known as ‘Vampire’, the police vowed to get to the roots of the embarrassing incident. Less than five weeks of the incident, the police fulfilled their promise when they paraded the corpse of the kingpin, six members of his gang members who were arrested in Imo State after a gun duel that lasted for several hours. The many sins of Vampire that included the killing of over 200 persons; the murder of a member of the Imo State House of Assembly at Orji in 2015; kidnap/murder of a monarch’s wife from Mbaise in 2015 whose corpse has not been seen, among other crimes.

The capture and killing of the notorious criminal gang in Imo State has demonstrated the determination of a renewed police force that is committed to the elimination of crimes. The police recently, in appreciation of the gallantry of its officers and men, rewarded the men for putting an end the operation of a gang that has brought tears to many families. To this end, Nigerians are praising the police for this worthy endeavour that seems critical in tackling crimes and bringing to book criminal gangs in curtailing the menace of kidnappings and violent crimes throughout the country.

Despite the hues and cries from a section of the Nigerian public on the need for the police to return to checkpoints that were earlier banned, the force has continued to take advantage of surprise attacks on criminals engaged in nefarious activities and deploying the lean manpower at their disposal for efficiently despite numerous needs. The commencement of aerial surveillance on areas suffering from security challenges is an attestation that the crime-busting organisation is irrevocably committed to the safety of lives and properties. Under the headship of Idris, the police are changing long held public narrative on the endemic corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of the Force. Officers and men of the police are now being encouraged to put in their best, knowing that there is a good reward system for gallantry and valour. More than any time, the police are becoming conscious of their members’ behaviours and have placed necessary systems to checkmate excesses among its rank and file. With this, officers and men of the force are conscious that members of the public are not only watching them, but are ever willing to resort to various means of reaching out to the Force to report inappropriate behaviors.

Every IGP of the Nigeria Police comes up with his own idea of how to police the society effectively in an attempt to redeem the battered image of the crime-fighting organisation. Under Idris, the Force has evolved creative means of engaging various stakeholders in the country to tackle crimes bedeviling the Nigerian society. As it is, Nigerians have never witnessed the emergence of a police boss who is relentlessly committed to reviving the confidence of the public on the ability of the Force to provide security to lives and property. Security, being a collective responsibility, IGP Idris has been able to achieve this through engaging relevant stakeholders in providing a bulwark of support for the Force.

Under the close watch of Idris, men and officers of the Nigeria Police are receiving new orientations and acquiring skills in the discharge of their professional duties. Negative perspective that police people have acquired in the past is gradually withering away, as more professionals, such as doctors, lawyers and engineers, among others, are joining the Force and heading relevant departments, unlike in past, where some people believed it was a job for those with connection to some faceless powers.

As Nigerians continue to witness positive footprints on the sands of crime-busting, not a few of the citizenry are expressing hope that the police will never let go their present determination to rid the country of criminal activities. With the determination by IGP Idris to broaden the efficiency of the Force, the fight against crimes by the police is said to have commenced in earnest.

I think the police under idris has recorded more extra judicial killings if innocent citizens more than before.

Get your criminal colleagues off the road. They are more proficient in revenue-generation, extortion, brutality, dragnet-arrests than policing.

Tell your uniformed criminals on the highway to cease stopping random vehicles for no reason other than checking for vehicle papers and luggage in order to witch-hunt and manufacture faults and offences. Only the disgraceful and corrupt Nigeria police do this.