Those men and women who are supposed to be among the noble class by virtue of their profession are being turned rogues by the same authorities that should bring the best out of them. The people, as well as the government, have gradually killed the morale in those that should be our protectors. Deliberate or sheer ignorance, Nigerian society has helped bring down the institution created for human peaceful existence. The police force – in its absolute form – is one of the best jobs in par with other service related professions like efficient doctor, genuine politician and dedicated teacher.

In normal circumstances it is the government’s duty to make sure this noble profession is never in jeopardy. It is also important, and especially the law abiding citizens, to give due respect to men and women in uniform. I have observed that Nigerians always belittle their police officers, yet they want the best out of them. There have been cases when their salaries were not paid. Even some of them are reported to fund their own uniforms. This is an insult on the institution responsible for protecting people and property.

To my surprise, we have failed to realise that a police officer is first and foremost a Nigerian. Her behaviour probably mirrors our society. She collects bribes, kills indiscriminately, and a tool for election malpractices. We should bear it in mind that a police officer goes to the same market as the rest of us. She has children and other responsibility society imposed on her. It is unfair to expect different behaviour from our police. I mean if a politician swindled the railway company, or a President General swindled you and I out of that money, what stops a police officer from swindling motorists a twenty-naira note?

Also, if an incumbent General uses his office to generate fund for private affairs such as the controversial library, what stops a police officer from using “own office� from generating similar “fund� for private affairs? If the commander-in-chief appears not ashamed of heading a government that gives little priority to the police force, why should young Nigerians who joined the force for the sole purpose of surviving think of service! And one needs to witness the kind of training recruits have to undergo. They are not being trained as friends of the society. In their eyes civilians are criminals. A recruit who was not taught civility could not be expected to display such character after training.

Perhaps Nigerians have forgotten that a hungry person is an angry person. Our police officers, in my view, could bear the disgrace because it is the last resort to quench their hunger. Their incorrigible behaviour, I think, is born not of cruelty but of desire to improve their living standard or survival. Unfair criticism would not stop them from collecting bribe. They need to be properly taken care of. For it seems there is no alternative to their survival other than shamelessly extort and harass those they suppose to protect.

Another option would be to engage in full time armed robbery. I believe a police officer will always find means to be relevant to his or her family. Is it logical to give them guns when their stomachs start to growl with hunger? Therefore a genuine critical look is needed into an institution known for obeying last order, yet disobeying the order to shun corruption and extortion. There must be a way to get rid of animal instinct that makes a law enforcement officer kills a fellow human being with inordinate cruelty. Because of #20! Something is critically wrong if a police corporal is so obsessed as to demand bribe from his own boss, Mr. Udom Ekpoudom, Delta State Commissioner of Police.

Wait a minute, is there not something called brown envelope among the so-called watchdog of the society? Can you please tell me the difference between that euphemism and the one common among the police or politicians? Isn’t it dangerous – perhaps very dangerous – if a leader does not lead by example? Or who among us would cast the proverbial first stone! But I am not in a hurry to actually blame anyone because low wages is a temptation to negative thoughts. How do we expect a police officer or a journalist with a family, who is paid #20,000 or less as monthly wages to live in a society where there is continuous rise in fuel price! In a society that worships money and motor cars! I think the evil spirit that commands our so-called politicians to dip their pilfering fingers in our money is also responsible for our police officers’ unpleasant and unsophisticated behaviour.

As stinking as it is, the police are part of what is wrong with a people that do not know their destination – yet. We should know that a driver who does not have proper documents would definitely give bribe, which of course goes into the officers’ pockets. However, if they are adequately cared for, there would be less temptation, and they would have confidence turning down such egunje. A parking or traffic fine paid by the offenders will then go to the government’s account.

Ironically, a police officer, the one we cursed and abused yesterday, is invariably the one we run to, whenever trouble comes. Am I right? I think it’s only sheer naivety that would make any Nigerian – educated or illiterate – to expect manner from heaven concerning our friends in uniform. Interestingly, the same critics would eventually do the same if they joined the police force. Egunje is contagious! The police are marginalized people in our society. We use our mouth to destroy their identity and integrity. It is obvious we have all failed to diagnose their plight. Instead of acting with prudence, we prefer using pen or gun to destroy their spirits, and the consequences lie deep in their psyche.

At the risk of receiving a stern rebuke, I would argue here that our inability to empathize with the police situation is probably the bane of their agony. One of our problems as a people is the fact that we often know where the shoes pinch but unable to fix it. If the police profound problem is centered on money, then why can’t we solve it by giving them enough in order for them to shun extortion? Thereafter we can eradicate another aspect of our social malaise, as we begin the tempestuous journey to building a pleasant society?

Pardon me, for it seems I have been defending or justifying the amorality of our law enforcement officers. But it is not my intention rather the facts must be stated. Tell me, can a society overlook the roles of the police? They are to protect our lives and properties; to maintain law and order; to apprehend and prosecute criminals etc. Each time a police officer walks the street, his or her life is at risk, yet we treat them with utter contempt. The recent attack on them by the mad dogs we called soldiers is a typical example of how fragile their lives could be when they are in uniform.

Although we can argue that no circumstances should force a law enforcement officer from deviating from primary duties, but as I said earlier, hunger is not a friend of human beings. It is only those whose stomachs are full that can think rationally. By the way, many of our amoral politicians are yet to convince us that a full stomach is a metaphor for rational thinking.

I believe there should be greater understanding between the public and the police. If we understand them, we would be able to treat them with respect and sympathy. When these are returned, the result is that the differences that cause friction will be solved or at least tolerated. Then we would have a friendly police force with “Service, Friendship and Dignity� as its motto.

The solution comes back to the federal government, which is responsible for the entire police force. For our police officers to perform well, they need to see themselves as worthy fellow citizens. Their wages should be above average with benefits. Give them adequate training as well as sophisticated weapons to combat the ever-improving men and women of the underworld. Stop recruiting just anyone.

Reading a report credited to Mr. Sunday Ehindero, Inspector General of Police that “we are recruiting criminals� makes my spine develop a slight curve. Although Mr. Ehindero said he has since stopped recruitment immediately he detected the mistake, how many of such criminals have managed to reach the top position?

Moreover, the usual six months training should be extended to eighteen months during which they should learn liberal Arts. Education in history, literature, science and appreciation of the arts will open the possibility for them to live more reflectively and knowledgeably. The problem here is that our commander-in chief does not see how arts can benefit our society, as when he scolded those pursuing mass communication and sociology.

If the government is not ready to assist them, then the public should. Will it be unreasonable if I suggest that each association should donate generously for their upkeep every Christmas or Moslem Ileya festival or other similar festivals, irrespective of previous brutality we might have suffered from them? This approach maybe strange and peculiar, but then nothing is too much for natural protectors of our precious lives and properties. Doing this literally means doing it for our country and not necessarily the police. Nigerians should see this gesture as a new beginning and recognition of police roles as inevitable in the society.

Finally, I am aware of the police incompetence since the brutal murder of Dele Giwa by parcel bomb in 1986, even though all evidence pointed toward that man. It is also an open secret that our police have proved to be a major obstacle in the course of justice. Nevertheless, Nigerians should help its police officers to feel proud. Let us stop looking at them as frustrated men and women in our midst. They are not our enemy but emblem of Nigerian system. They are important to the development of any nation. Help the police in order to help you.

Robot  Villager

# 1 Those men and women who are supposed to be among ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 11.11.2005 16:21

Odinaka  Villager

# 2 Nice point Hakeem. The police reflects the society. The police can never be well behaved if the people at the top do not behave well. Raphael Ige wouldn't have gone the Anambra errand if he was not powered from above. The senseless killings of Nigerians by men of the police force wouldn't exist if there was respect for the law Posted by Odinaka| 11.11.2005 19:17