Juliana Francis
Arase
December 4th, 2021 was a day some widows of deceased policemen wouldn’t forget in a hurry. The day witnessed some crime reporters in Nigeria, teaming up to ensure that the widows and children of slain policemen will have a Christmas to remember as they were each given a stipend of N200, 000.
It was also a double joy for the women as a retired Inspector-General-of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, who was the guest speaker at the event, also made financial gifts to the widow.
Arase was one of the influential Nigerians that graced the event. The event, tagged, “An Evening with Police And Friends,” was held at Ikeja, Lagos State. The programme further boasts of other bigwigs like the retired Assistant-Inspector-General of Police (AIG) and a Commissioner of Police, Edward Awolowo Ajogun, retired. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu was also on ground as guest of honour to welcome his superiors.
Arase, who is the guest speaker, seized the opportunity to implore Nigerians to cultivate the habit of caring for their police personnel, instead of constantly lampooning them.
The IGP, who disclosed that he was very particular about the events he attended, revealed that his attraction to this particular gathering was the discovery that some crime reporters cared enough to remember and honour widows of slain policemen.
His words: “I attended this event because one of the organisers, who reached out to me, explained that they were going to honour some policemen and widows of policemen. I was particularly glad because most times, nobody cares. Who cares whether a policeman is killed? The work of the police is challenging because there are too many expectations. Again, the achievements of the police are rarely appreciated.”
The convener of the event, Mr. Jonas Kalu, under the auspices of ‘Naija Police and U,’ explained that, Naija Police and U, is an association of professional crime reporters drawn from reputable media organisations in Nigeria.
He further stated: “Our main objective as an organisation is to facilitate the emergence of a friendly Nigerian Police Force that meets the yearnings and aspirations of the citizens in law enforcement and crime prevention. To this end, we aim to showcase the positive sides of the Force, chiefly by celebrating the great feat of police personnel, who have shown uncommon courage in the discharge of their duties. Let me say we are here to appreciate the police institution for the role they play in keeping our society sane and safe. In truth, the condition of service, the welfare scheme, the post service arrangements as they pertain to officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force leaves much to be desired. As journalists, who report crimes and interact with police officers daily, we know the abysmal condition under which they work. It is often said that a country deserves the police it gets. In other words, society is responsible for the deficiency or otherwise as portrayed by its police officers. Therefore, this forum is a discourse between the public, policymakers and police towards a common understanding of areas needing improvements in the country’s police system.”
Arase, speaking on the theme: “Our Police in Challenging times: Who really cares?” explained that the work of the police in any society was difficult, complex and dangerous, with expectations of members of the public in Nigeria many, varied and exceeding the resources and support given to the police.
He said that failures on the part of the police were easily observed and widely reported and condemned while achievements of the police were rarely recognized, applauded and rewarded.
He noted that in spite of the inherent hostile environment and sundry challenges, the Nigeria Police had remained steadfast to its responsibility of guaranteeing the safety of the lives and property of the citizens even at the risk of their own lives.
He stated that between November 2021 and October 2021, 120 police officers paid the supreme sacrifice in the discharge of their statutory mandate in relation to the enhancement of the community peace and security, while 200 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
He added: “Also, between 8th and 30th October 2020, a total of 134 police stations were burnt and vandalised, while a total of 164 police vehicles were destroyed and burnt. In order to perform its function of effectively preventing and controlling crimes, the police require diverse skills. As an American police chief wrote in 1947, ‘policemen are challenged at every turn to render skilled services to the public.’ In a routine day a policeman may have to render first aid to an injured motorist, deliver a safety address, trail and apprehend a dangerous criminal, convince a runaway boy on the error of his ways, assist in the prosecution of a criminal case. These and many more are the abilities that the public confidently expects of policemen. Ideally, policemen must have the knowledge and skills of the lawyer, doctor, and the engineer and he must possess the endurance of an athlete, have the insight of the sociologist and psychologist and the compassion of a minister. They must present resolute, dynamic, personalities particularly characterized by magnanimity.”
The former IG said that the work of the police is even made more difficult in societies like Nigeria where there is a mutual distrust between the police and the public, and assistance to the police is often withheld by citizens.
He explained that several factors inhibit strong partnership between the citizens and the police in Nigeria. The first factor is the circumstance in which the police emerged in the country, which is believed to be through colonial rulers to promote their interests of exploiting and oppressing the indigenous peoples, and hence, by origin Police forces were established as instruments of colonization.
He said: “Efficiency is a critical factor in developing and sustaining confidence in the police. Sources of inefficiency by the Nigeria Police Force include huge gap between required and provided human and non-human resources made available to the police, deficit in the operational competencies, poor remuneration and conditions of service; misconduct by some officers, and unrelenting criticisms of the police by the public which demoralised the police.”
He mentioned that the relationship and partnership between the police and citizens in Nigeria are generally unsatisfactory because of several factors. Some of the factors, noted Arase, are lack of organizational resources and the capability for effective service delivery. Others are; poor conditions of service that affect personnel performance and their relationship with suspects and complaints. There’s also inadequate social interaction between the police and citizens, indiscipline by some personnel and flagrant violation of law by a significant proportion of Nigerians who resent police action to curtail criminality; and lack of appreciation of the nature of police work by citizens.”
Retired CP, Ajogun, reacting after the speech of Arase, suggested that the words of Arase should be pondered. This was even as he stated that there was a need to examine the level of police disempowerment by the military.
The Executive Director, Crime Victims Foundation of Nigeria (CRIVIFON), Barrister Gloria Egbuji, who was also at the event said: “I have worked closely with the police, and worked closely with six IGPs. I can say I understand their problems. When I started working and training some of them, I realised that the rank and file, the Inspectors, do not know the rights of the citizens. They are always those on the fields. We started training police human rights in Lagos. We discovered that the problems they have are created by society. The Police and Divisional Police Officers have paltry sums in running their stations. If we want police to be our friends, then we shouldn’t make them frustrated because they are frustrated.”
Egbuji further stated: “The society should try to understand the police and help them to do their work. Most retired police officers are suffering and roaming the streets. Their situations are dire! There’s also a need to respect the human rights of people by the police.”
Enumerating some of his achievements during his tenure as the IGP, Arase said: “One of the major efforts aimed at improving officer’ welfare was the housing programme that was given significant attention during my tenure. Towards the end, 400 units of low-cost housing estates were commissioned in Katsina, Adamawa, Edo and Enugu States. The unique thing about the housing scheme is that it targeted the inspectors and Rank and File Cadre of the Force, who do not only represent the most critical operational cadre of the Force, but who are the main street bureaucrats whose fear of the future propel them to engage in acts capable of widening the gap between the citizens and the Police.”
Still foraging into the pathway of memories and achievements, Arase said that the Force leadership incorporated the Nigeria Police Scholarship Foundation to extend scholarship opportunities to children of junior cadre officers from Primary to University level.
The scheme was launched in December, 2015 with a total of 325 children of members of the rank and file benefiting.
“If these programmes are sustained they hold the potential of drastically reducing corruption, improving commitment and performance among police officers, and closing up the trust gap between the police and members of the public. The Police Force should make efforts to dismantle obstacles to partnership with the public, and hope also that citizens will reciprocate by extending support to the police to enable them carry out their daunting task of ensuring security and safety in a dynamic and increasingly dangerous world. In this way, security, peace and development shall reign in our country,” said Arase.
Some policemen and crime reporters were also presented with awards for standing out in their fields of endeavor.
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