Security experts caution on character of recruits into Police

Nigerians have urged the Nigeria Police to enlist only men and women of good character when it recruits the 10,000 personnel promised by President Muhammadu Buhari.

They made the call in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria against the backdrop of the president’s promise to offer 10,000 jobs in the force.

The recruitment is to beef up the Police workforce, which currently stands at less than 400,000 for a population of 170 million.

The United Nations’ recommendation is a minimum of 222 policemen per 100,000 people, a number that the current 400,000 does not cover.

They were of the view that many people with questionable characters would want to join the force at this point in time as an alternative to their much needed job.

They also expressed the fear that the process would be marred by fraud if adequate care was not taken.

Frank Oditah, a retired police commissioner, said the police authority must take adequate measures to choose the best from among Nigerians, as the recruitment would form the future police personnel for the nation.

Oditah said recruiting suspected criminals into the force would spell danger, saying many people would want to take advantage of the opening to secure a job.

“I advise that those in charge of recruitment must maintain the standard; they should not allow people to influence their decision or impose any candidate on them. The candidate must meet the requirements. They should choose the best,’’ he said.

He, however, said recruiting 10,000 men without adequate welfare, particularly accommodation, would amount to waste of time, saying the force should ensure adequate logistics for the officers and men, as the recruitment was a welcome development if their welfare would be well taken care of.

Folorunsho Attah, a security consultant, said the Federal Government’s decision to recruit 10,000 persons into the force showed the seriousness of Buhari’s administration in tackling insecurity.

He noted that in the past two years, in spite of the security challenges and increase in violent crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping, no person was recruited.

“I think this was so when people without idea headed sensitive security agencies. With the presidential promise, the issue of insecurity is not only being confronted head long, but an indication that one day, we’ll get to the UN recommendation of one policeman to 400 persons.

“With the 10,000 men, the capability of the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, and the continuous support of the government, violent crimes and insurgency will be addressed soon,’’ Attah said.

For Shuaib Ahmed, head of operations, Ideal Technology, a private security guard company, the Federal Government’s move will check inadequacy of security officials.

“We believe in this because it is President Muhammad Buhari making the promise. It has been said in the past but we all know what happened in the process. I just hope it will be carefully done this time and free from fraudulent practices,’’ he said.

Segun Lawal, another security consultant, advised that the force should first withdraw all policemen attached to individuals before commencing the recruitment.

“I will advise that the police force first withdraws all the policemen attached to some individuals in the society before the planned recruitment. Individuals in need of security personnel should be directed to private security firms,’’ he said.