Need for a disciplined police force

Successive leaderships of the Nigeria Police Force have over the years attempted to enthrone discipline within the force and also deepen the relationship between the police and the citizens. This determination, among other factors, led to the proscription of police checkpoints in 2010 by the then Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ogbonnaya Onovo. His successors, Hafiz Ringim and Mohammed Abubakar, followed the same direction. Abubakar, who assumed office in 2012, ordered all policemen to leave checkpoints. Other IGPs after him did not reverse the order as they realised its importance and potential impact.

The order expressly means that policemen should not organise any checkpoint on the roads except any disaster or emergency requires an immediate blockage of the road, which should be temporary.

It is, however, regrettable that some policemen across the country have found ways of circumventing this order as some of them are obstinate or probably testing the powers of the IGP as they continue to mount roadblocks, perhaps for lucre. At roadblocks, some of them unashamedly beg motorists for money in the public glare, turn themselves into traffic wardens and engage in arrests with intention to extort money. At certain checkpoints and motor parks, some immoral policemen employ the services of touts to collect money from commercial motorists on their behalf. In their parlance, this is called ‘owo police’.

Unfortunately, all these regrettable practices by a few policemen have soiled the image of the police force. A research among citizenry on the attitude and relationship between the police and the citizens will perhaps not be positive. Some of the police officers damn the consequences of their extortionist tendencies on the roads, but these ugly activities create a negative image of the police and demean a critical institution that is central to nation’s life.

It is on this note that it is gratifying that the current IGP, Solomon Arase, has stepped up the enforcement of the ban on police checkpoints with the intention of curbing the excesses of some policemen. To ensure this and good patrol, he recently commissioned a number of patrol vehicles for the force.

The police force is a critical institution in any nation, more so in a developing country like Nigeria. Ensuring discipline and security, the major functions of police, underpin development of democracy and the economy. It is clear that what makes some countries a cynosure is the insistence on rules enforced by strong institutions like the police. Therefore, Nigeria should not allow its police force that should enthrone discipline to be undisciplined. However, the force needs encouragement, motivation, training and re-training to ensure a civil society.

One of the policy thrusts of the incoming Buhari administration is discipline, borne out of the belief that the concept is a lever to an orderly, less-corrupt society leading to economic growth. The other is security. But this cannot be achieved if the police force entrusted with the responsibility to ensure civil orderliness and security is itself disorderly. We therefore call on the incoming government to pay attention to the Nigeria Police Force, applying both carrot and stick, if he must achieve his objective of enthroning a disciplined society.