Only one strategy to wipe out militant kidnappers – Hafiz Inuwa

Mr Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa is the Cross River State Commissioner of Police. He is also one time Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the current Inspector General of Police (IGP).  In this chat with CLEMENT JAMES, Inuwa explains his efforts in making Cross River State peaceful, despite challenges.  Excerpts;

The IGP recently met with senior police officers; he warned them against indiscipline.  What do you make of this warning?

I happen to be somebody who worked closely with the IGP (PSO) and I can say that he is passionate and nationalistic.  I know his feelings about the Nigeria Police Force, and whatever he tells his subordinates to do is usually something that will drive the Force forward. 

Now, one thing that the IGP always emphasizes on is that there must be reduction in crime rate; he insists that we must partner with communities. 

In fact, he places serious emphasis on community policing. He used to say that even if all the security forces are mobilized, they still cannot solve societal problem because no society can be insulated from any crime. 

The IGP has always asked us to do everything possible to make sure that the people sleep with their two eyes closed. He said that the Force must maintain discipline and integrity that are expected of it. 

I also know him to be one person who does not tolerate any act of indiscipline. He has been trying to inculcate this into his subordinates.  We all know him to be one person who does not lie. Whenever he wants to discipline an officer, he doesn’t care whose ox is gored. 

He expects us to expose, anyone among us, who commits any act of indiscipline. He is ready to deal with the person.

The issue of corruption in the Force seems to defy solution.  Do you think the IGP’s instruction would be taken seriously by those at command level?

When people talk about corruption and the police, I laugh. The question remains; is police the most corrupt institution in the country?  Of course, not!  Look at the way we work tirelessly around the clock; is that the way we are supposed to work? 

If you look at the condition under which we work, is it the kind of condition we are supposed to work? When you look at the society, can we as policemen divorce ourselves from the society? No!  What I’m trying to say is that there is no doubt that there are bad eggs in the system, but the Nigeria Police Force is the only institution in the country that purges itself of corruption. 

As I speak, there is a policeman that I dismissed, and there are two others on their way out because I know the kind of IGP at the helm of affairs.  The IGP, I can tell you, abhors corruption. 

A corrupt person cannot work with the IGP for a week without being sent away.  If you look at him, he is not a rich man; he has integrity and contented.

The IGP has also re-emphasized on the need to make bail free.  Do you think this directive would be obeyed?

I can assure you that we will carry out the IGP’s directive to the letter. If you go to any police station now and any policeman asks you to buy paper or pen, tell him those items are with the Commissioner of Police. 

People should summon courage and report some of these things to the senior police officers.  Most of these things are done without the knowledge of senior police officers at the station.  Why should anybody pay for bail?  Is cell a hotel, where someone comes to lodge and pay?

It is the right of suspects to get bail on cases that are bail able.  However, someone cannot commit murder and then expects police to give him bail.

 The suspect will have to wait until completion of police investigation. After that, he would to be charged to court and if the court decides to release him, then that is it.

But at the Police station? It can’t happen!

Unless there are no evidences against such a suspect; when there is a murder case, you can arrest as many people as possible.  But eventually, you must narrow down on those who are culpable. 

Have you had the benefit of using the IGP’s Response Squad to deal with any crime situation in the state?

We thank God that in Cross River State; we have not had serious or violent crimes that would warrant the IGP to send the team. We hope and pray that we will not have.  That specialised team is sent to areas where special cases take place.

Some criminal activities in recent time have been linked to militants operating in the creeks.  Has your command defined a clear approach to identifying and dealing with these militants?

You see, some of these militants come in through the creeks and return.  We are on land, but notwithstanding this, we are devising ways and means of getting information. That is why I have been preaching about partnership and collaboration between members of the public and security agencies. 

I’m glad to tell you that most of the credible information I’m getting, comes from journalists and others.  I also get information from well-meaning members of the public. We thank God that people are embracing this approach of partnership. 

I have had situations where people call to confirm my phone number. I give out my number because we want to be close to the people. 

We want people to develop confidence in the police. We have good responses from the public. People call and tell me they are happy with the performances of my men.  The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ogoja branch, commended the efforts of my men. The members said that during my time, the crime rate reduced drastically.

What is your view about using Siren to chase criminals in the night?

That is very bad and I can tell you that I frown on such.  I have told my men that they must stop it.  However, in a situation where several patrol vehicles have to drive to a particular place, to arrest a particular situation, it can be tolerated. 

Sometimes, they don’t do this deliberately, but to avoid cross-firing with sister patrol teams.  I have, however, told my men to exercise due diligence and caution in their approach to any given situation.

What’s your opinion on jungle justice? Especially since it’s beginning to happen in this state?

Jungle justice is bad! I frown on it and the law of this country does not tolerate it.  Whoever is caught unleashing his anger on someone, just because the person committed a crime will be punished. This is because the punisher himself or herself has also contributed to the commission of a crime.  I have said it everywhere, nobody will tolerate jungle justice. We are not living in an animal farm where the survival of the fittest is the order of the day. 

We are living in a civilized society where law and order prevail.  If somebody commits a crime, we expect members of the public to help us in arresting him or her.  Nobody should torture him, let alone to kill him.  In fact, nobody should even beat a suspected criminal because he remains a suspect.  It is only the court that can pronounce him guilty. If you lynch a person, you are automatically conferring the authority of the court on yourself.

What is your advice to the general public?

I want Cross River citizens to live in peace. That is why we are taking the war to criminal hide-outs.  I’m appealing to people to shun cultism, inter and intra communal clashes. Youths must learn to respect their traditional and community elders so that we can have effective partnership and collaboration. Also, we can exchange intelligence and fight crime and criminality.

End.

Pix: Hafiz Inuwa, Commissioner of Police, Cross River State.

Mr Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa is the Cross River State Commissioner of Police. He is also one time Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the current Inspector General of Police (IGP).  In this chat with CLEMENT JAMES, Inuwa explains his efforts in making Cross River State peaceful, despite challenges.  Excerpts;

The IGP recently met with senior police officers; he warned them against indiscipline.  What do you make of this warning?

I happen to be somebody who worked closely with the IGP (PSO) and I can say that he is passionate and nationalistic.  I know his feelings about the Nigeria Police Force, and whatever he tells his subordinates to do is usually something that will drive the Force forward. 

Now, one thing that the IGP always emphasizes on is that there must be reduction in crime rate; he insists that we must partner with communities. 

In fact, he places serious emphasis on community policing. He used to say that even if all the security forces are mobilized, they still cannot solve societal problem because no society can be insulated from any crime. 

The IGP has always asked us to do everything possible to make sure that the people sleep with their two eyes closed. He said that the Force must maintain discipline and integrity that are expected of it. 

I also know him to be one person who does not tolerate any act of indiscipline. He has been trying to inculcate this into his subordinates.  We all know him to be one person who does not lie. Whenever he wants to discipline an officer, he doesn’t care whose ox is gored. 

He expects us to expose, anyone among us, who commits any act of indiscipline. He is ready to deal with the person.

The issue of corruption in the Force seems to defy solution.  Do you think the IGP’s instruction would be taken seriously by those at command level?

When people talk about corruption and the police, I laugh. The question remains; is police the most corrupt institution in the country?  Of course, not!  Look at the way we work tirelessly around the clock; is that the way we are supposed to work? 

If you look at the condition under which we work, is it the kind of condition we are supposed to work? When you look at the society, can we as policemen divorce ourselves from the society? No!  What I’m trying to say is that there is no doubt that there are bad eggs in the system, but the Nigeria Police Force is the only institution in the country that purges itself of corruption. 

As I speak, there is a policeman that I dismissed, and there are two others on their way out because I know the kind of IGP at the helm of affairs.  The IGP, I can tell you, abhors corruption. 

A corrupt person cannot work with the IGP for a week without being sent away.  If you look at him, he is not a rich man; he has integrity and contented.

The IGP has also re-emphasized on the need to make bail free.  Do you think this directive would be obeyed?

I can assure you that we will carry out the IGP’s directive to the letter. If you go to any police station now and any policeman asks you to buy paper or pen, tell him those items are with the Commissioner of Police. 

People should summon courage and report some of these things to the senior police officers.  Most of these things are done without the knowledge of senior police officers at the station.  Why should anybody pay for bail?  Is cell a hotel, where someone comes to lodge and pay?

It is the right of suspects to get bail on cases that are bail able.  However, someone cannot commit murder and then expects police to give him bail.

 The suspect will have to wait until completion of police investigation. After that, he would to be charged to court and if the court decides to release him, then that is it.

But at the Police station? It can’t happen!

Unless there are no evidences against such a suspect; when there is a murder case, you can arrest as many people as possible.  But eventually, you must narrow down on those who are culpable. 

Have you had the benefit of using the IGP’s Response Squad to deal with any crime situation in the state?

We thank God that in Cross River State; we have not had serious or violent crimes that would warrant the IGP to send the team. We hope and pray that we will not have.  That specialised team is sent to areas where special cases take place.

Some criminal activities in recent time have been linked to militants operating in the creeks.  Has your command defined a clear approach to identifying and dealing with these militants?

You see, some of these militants come in through the creeks and return.  We are on land, but notwithstanding this, we are devising ways and means of getting information. That is why I have been preaching about partnership and collaboration between members of the public and security agencies. 

I’m glad to tell you that most of the credible information I’m getting, comes from journalists and others.  I also get information from well-meaning members of the public. We thank God that people are embracing this approach of partnership. 

I have had situations where people call to confirm my phone number. I give out my number because we want to be close to the people. 

We want people to develop confidence in the police. We have good responses from the public. People call and tell me they are happy with the performances of my men.  The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ogoja branch, commended the efforts of my men. The members said that during my time, the crime rate reduced drastically.

What is your view about using Siren to chase criminals in the night?

That is very bad and I can tell you that I frown on such.  I have told my men that they must stop it.  However, in a situation where several patrol vehicles have to drive to a particular place, to arrest a particular situation, it can be tolerated. 

Sometimes, they don’t do this deliberately, but to avoid cross-firing with sister patrol teams.  I have, however, told my men to exercise due diligence and caution in their approach to any given situation.

What’s your opinion on jungle justice? Especially since it’s beginning to happen in this state?

Jungle justice is bad! I frown on it and the law of this country does not tolerate it.  Whoever is caught unleashing his anger on someone, just because the person committed a crime will be punished. This is because the punisher himself or herself has also contributed to the commission of a crime.  I have said it everywhere, nobody will tolerate jungle justice. We are not living in an animal farm where the survival of the fittest is the order of the day. 

We are living in a civilized society where law and order prevail.  If somebody commits a crime, we expect members of the public to help us in arresting him or her.  Nobody should torture him, let alone to kill him.  In fact, nobody should even beat a suspected criminal because he remains a suspect.  It is only the court that can pronounce him guilty. If you lynch a person, you are automatically conferring the authority of the court on yourself.

What is your advice to the general public?

I want Cross River citizens to live in peace. That is why we are taking the war to criminal hide-outs.  I’m appealing to people to shun cultism, inter and intra communal clashes. Youths must learn to respect their traditional and community elders so that we can have effective partnership and collaboration. Also, we can exchange intelligence and fight crime and criminality.

End.

Pix: Hafiz Inuwa, Commissioner of Police, Cross River State.