Why do policemen take bribe, students ask CP

As the 2016 Police Week came to an end last week, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, felt one of the activities to complete the week would be for students in some selected schools be given career talk on what it takes to be a policeman or woman.

The students were however brimming with questions on that fateful March 31, 2016. When opportunities were given for questions, they attacked with myriad of astonishing questions.

One of them, Okere Emmanuel, a Senior Secondary 2 student from State Senior High School, Oba Akinjobi, Ikeja, asked Owoseni, “Sir, why do policemen take bribe and harass innocent citizens?”

As the question dropped, the POWA Event Centre, GRA, Ikeja, where the career talk was held, suddenly went quite. All eyes and ears focused on Owoseni.

But like a seasoned officer, who had warred on many fronts and conquered many foes, Owoseni smiled and said: “It’s prohibited for any police officer to take bribe.  But if any policeman is caught taking bribe from members of the public, such a person will be dealt with according to the police law. There’s no reason for a policeman to collect bribe. If you see any policeman collecting or demanding bribe, don’t hesitate to call the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs. Dolapo Badmos.”

Owoseni immediately ordered Badmos to make her phone number available to the students.

Explaining why the career talk was part of 2016 Police Week in Lagos, Owoseni said: “We want to use students in their various schools. We want them to be the vanguard of change in the society.”

The career talk was given to pupils from different Nursery, Primary schools and students from Secondary Schools in Lagos. While attempting to tell the students why they should consider policing as a profession, the discussion further explored the theme; ‘Police is your Friend.’

Owoseni continued, “We want Nigerians to change their misconceptions about the police. The police strive to protect lives and property. There’s always a need to talk to students about careers because some may decide to become police officers tomorrow. I know in Nigeria people have misconceptions about the police. But by the time you are through with the programme today, you’ll realise that police is your friend.”

Owoseni further explained: “The Police are trained and disciplined Nigerians and that is why we are doing this to catch you young and train you as good Nigerian Police. Police help you when you’re oppressed. Police are rendering services to humanity; tell your friends and parents to call the police when they are in distress and we will be there.”

He urged the students to be of good conduct and face their studies in order for them to be good citizens of Nigeria.

An SS 2 student from Chosen International Secondary School, Eyo Exodus, said: “I wanted to study medicine at the university, so that I can save lives, but I never knew that a medical doctor can also work in the Nigeria Police Force. Now, I have a change of mind. I would like to be a police officer and still save lives. Today, we have been made to realize that police are not bad people.”

Sarah Onyeka, a Primary 6 pupil from the Brains School, Amuwo Odofin, said: “I like police uniform, but I don’t want to be a police officer. My plan is to be a medical doctor.” 

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in charge of Festac Police Station, a Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Monday Agbonika, who anchored the career talk, gave the students a brief history of the Nigeria Police Force.

Agbonika said: “This discussion is to aid you all in your career decisions and also encourage patriotism. When you look at the requirements in the Nigeria Police and the activities, you’ll realise there are things you cannot just do except you love Nigeria. It’s good for you as a student to know that crime does not pay, because those that get involved in crime end up in bad situations. They are either killed in the process or got caught and sentenced to jail.”

 The students were also told that they have rights as citizens of Nigeria. They were enlightened on requirements for the different points of entries for the Nigeria Police and various ranks of the officers. The students were cautioned to avoid illicit drugs and cultism.  

The chairman planning committee, Mrs. Folasade Adams, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said: “We’re using the celebration to sell police to the students. They need to know about policing as a profession. Nigerians should know that police is their friend. It’s only when they know this, they can encourage their children to enlist into the force. The police cannot work effectively without the assistant of members of the public. They need to give police information and assist in crime fighting and control.”

Some of the schools in attendance were Chosen International School, Festac, Police Children School Festac, Command Day Secondary School, Ikeja, Bello Memorial Nursery, Primary School Maryland, Lora Narrow Way Nursery and Primary School, Ikorodu, and State Senior High School, Oba Akinjobi, Ikeja.