₦airaland Forum

Mbu the Brave
 February 15, 2015
 Written by Festus Eriye
The newly posted Assistant Inspector General
of Police (AIG), Zone 2, Joseph Mbu, fancies
himself a special kind of cop. He came to
national attention for his confrontations with
Governor Rotimi Amaechi whilst he was
Commissioner of Police in Rivers State.
While the clashes between the two were often
under the cloud of partisan politics, Mbu
obviously rates his time in Port Harcourt as
the high point of his law enforcement career.
Ever since, he hasn’t stopped regaling us with
tales of how he “tamed Amaechi.” He is clearly
proud of this “accomplishment” – if that is
what it is. But I wonder when the humiliation
of a state governor or disrespecting his office
became the hallmark of policing.
Mbu is clearly fascinated with governors –
that’s why he’s been going around making
snide comments and threatening them. His
outbursts are supposed to show us how brave
he is: the only police commissioner in Nigeria
who can confront a governor. Congratulations
Mr. Commissioner! Now we know you have
hair on your chest!
While the police officer’s former utterances
have been entertaining, he entered dangerous
territory at a meeting last Thursday at the
Ogun State Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta. In
briefing his men on how to handle the coming
elections he said: “If one of my men is killed, I
shall kill twenty of them but don’t shoot first.
If they shoot you, shoot back in self-defence.
Anybody who fires you, fire him back in self-
defence.”
Let’s be clear: anyone who shoots at a
policeman must face the law and pay the price
for his crime. It is totally different matter,
however, for a senior police officer to be
encouraging his men to engage in murderous
reprisals.
In which of our statutes is it written that 20
citizens must be killed for the death of one
policeman? This is an outrageous statement
that makes you wonder about the sorts of
excesses which Amnesty International, Human
Rights Watch and others have blamed our
police for.
There’s a limit to self-lionisation and
overzealousness. It is always wise for public
officers to choose their words carefully. Mbu
has spoken. But when he orders such a
shooting he will suddenly discover the limits
of the powers of an AIG!

why must pple take Mbu statments literally?

is pure rhetoric to discourage, thuggery on election day

I pray the statement serves its purpose reining in electoral violence

I think mbu is trying to discourage thuggery and violence. Police men have been maimed,killed and disgraced in previous elections. Its either a free and fair election or fire for fire.

Mbu is been tamming the monsters(apc) since 1920 . GEJ till 2019!!!

In a political terrain where the system works, Mbu would since have been penalised for all that. However in Nigeria now, with Federal backing, you are above the law, else Mbu and Asari Dokubo would not make those threats in a country battling with security challenges and still move freely. So if u haven't gotten your pvc, get up and get it Now cos, remember, bad leaders are and always will be voted by good people who don't vote them off the seat.

I make bold to say if every Police Commissioner was like Mbu the recklessness of some state governors and their stooges will be checked. The current crop of Nigeria politicians need high-handed treatment,and AIG Mbu is the right man for the job.

asadike:
I think mbu is trying to discourage thuggery and violence. Police men have been maimed,killed and disgraced in previous elections. Its either a free and fair election or fire for fire.

It's appalling that majority of us are on the ultimate search journey for points of criticism!

How many of us critics bother to ask the number of our men in black wasted in 2011?

How many of us aside typing RIP TO THE DEAD bother to ask how their families survive?

How many of us apart from trying to paint the government black ever ask why we hardly get the best from these people?

I don't agree that 20 lives should be taken for 1

I don't also agree that Mbu's comment is meant to be taken literary though some trigger crazy ones among them will

I do know those words are meant to discourage thuggery and election racketeering!

I do know when these guys fall we will all say "they signed for it", type RIP and turn round to campaign with their death as we are currently doing with the corp members of 2011!


God bless Nigeria and also give Nigerians wisdom!


DISCLAIMER: I am no police officer and have non in my family!