Written by ; ‘JIDE ADESINA
“Corruption in Nigeria is in its systemic growth and the most formidable institution in our midst which as become a way of life within the fabrics of Nigeria system since independence’
Nigeria’s federal police force kills with impunity, extorts those it’s charged to protect and rapes arrested prostitutes as a “fringe benefit” of the job, a report by a civil liberties group alleges.
The Nigeria police force was an organization setup by the government for the purpose of enforcing law and order in the society but it is highly unfortunate that men of the uniform have over the years refused to align themselves with the cogent goals and objectives of the institution. Corruption in the police has been in existence from time immemorial and it has continued to grow among these men who were supposed to help in eradicating this menace. From high-ranking police officers to the constables, these men have become enemies of the people because they have failed in rendering the needed assistance to the public whenever and wherever. The police create more trouble for the citizens rather than protect their lives and properties.
Gone are the days when men of the Nigeria police were devoted to their duties but the crops of policemen in the country today are dishonest, indiscipline and corrupt. They are individuals who need to be charged with different crimes of bribery and corruption. The exposure of crimes committed by two former Inspector-General of Police in recent times is a pointer to the fact that bribery and corruption is within the rank and file of the force. These two men were at different times sitting atop a police force that was meant to curb the issue of crime and violence in our society but apparently, they were perpetuating some heinous crimes while overseeing the affairs of men saddled with responsibility of enforcing law and order.
So many high ranking policemen cannot deny having their share of the monies collected from commercial vehicle drivers by junior officers whom they often send out for this purpose. The policemen have ignored their main duties and mount unnecessary roadblocks for settlement. These hungry police officers sometimes force individuals who refuse to ‘settle’ them and threaten to shoot them. It is surprising how, many Nigerians give men of the Nigeria Police illegitimate money out of fear. This has resulted in lack of respect for the police.
Furthermore, the police demand bribes from private car owners and they do not respect the fundamental human rights of citizens. Transporters and motorists without valid vehicle particulars are guaranteed of movement, if only they could pay a certain amount of money and this happens on a regular basis. Hence, both commercial and private vehicle owners may not renew their licenses as long as they are willing to part ways with some amount of money. The Lagos State Police Command through its Public Relations Officers have always denied any knowledge of this ongoing bribery and corruption among their men but it is a common knowledge that men of the Nigeria police collect money from citizens. Even when some high-ranking officers admit that they are aware of this unprofessional act, the problem has for a long time remained undressed by them. They couldn’t have stopped the growing trend anyway, since their bosses as earlier mentioned sent these policemen that violate the laws of the land. Nigeria Police have also become tools in the hands of politicians, allowing themselves to be used for different election malpractices across the nation. One wonder when this endemic structural problem in the police is going to stop? Not to talk of their Godfather Gen Ibarahim Babangida trying to come back to power, who breed corruption as his weapon of governance, legalizing extortion of money, killing of innocent political opponent and journalist and President Jonathan Goodluck is a lame dog, it’s the same machinery he will use, as he is trying to over stretch is luck by contesting the next presidential election comes 2011, witch-hunting political opponents, divide and rule tactics, promoting some lower ranking officer in the force for his own personal or political agenda, power of incumbency to rig elections for PDP while empowering the radicals or militant member of Niger-delta.
Police brutality and threats is fast becoming a norm in our society. These policemen spare social miscreants, otherwise known as area boys who disrupt law and order and often intimidate fellow citizens without any arrest. It is high time the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission began to monitor the affairs of some divisional police officers and other top police officials who send their men out for the purpose of bribery and corruption. There is no certainty that a huge increment in the salaries of police officers would reduce this unwholesome habit as they already take delight in the collection of bribe from their fellow countrymen. Most of them are satisfied with the amount they get from their daily operations and do not care much about the salary.
It is also no more news that the policemen hire out guns to armed robbers and sometime engage in robbery but nothing has been done about it. So far, the institution cannot claim any success on its operations because there are many unresolved cases in its record. The police have not been able to expose the killers of late Chief Bola Ige, Dr. Harry Marshal, Funsho Williams and just recently Abayomi Ogundeji to mention but a few. They connive with armed robbers and assassins to commit crime instead of combating crime. Nigeria’s federal police force kills with impunity, extorts those it’s charged to protect and rapes arrested prostitutes as a “fringe benefit” of the job, a report by a civil liberties group Nigeria’s corrupt and maligned police force, which at its mildest merely demands bribes from motorists at roadblocks. At its worst, the report alleges the police rub chemical mace and hot chili pepper into the genitals of those it arrests, drawing out dubious confessions officers use as an excuse to summarily execute those they describe as “armed robbers.The Nigeria Police force are also agents and tools to politicians, they dance with the rhythms and become a machinery of harassment and detention of journalists.
It is clear that journalists were reporting the crimes and mirroring them to the society, while election rigging, strikes, political disputes between the President and other members of government, or as in the case of Gbenga Faturoti of the Daily Independent, beaten almost unconscious for failing to turn off his mobile phone whilst in the Osun State Assembly. Altogether 54 journalists were victims of either the police or SSS in 2009 and the immemorial night the late president Yar’adua was hijack back to the country through Muritala airport – arrested, beaten, threatened, detained. Most were tortured. All were released without charge after period of 24 hours to 1 week. In addition Ray power was told not to report the arrival while journalist with MITV and other media organization were seriously threatened and warned.
“The average police officer on the streets of Nigeria is armed with horse whip and many of them show considerable enthusiasm in using it on innocent passers-by without provocation,” the report from the Abuja, Nigeria-based organization reads. “Those who get away with merely being horsewhipped are considered lucky. Many others fare much worse. The report draws a different conclusion. The group, supported by liberal financier George Soros’ foundation, said it based its findings on field monitoring and investigations at more than 400 police stations and posts visited from February 2007 to January 2009
The group found police openly paraded alleged armed robbery suspects before local journalists before later executing them. The police used euphemisms for the slayings, saying the suspects would be “escorted,” sent out on an “errand” or “transferred to” Nigeria’s capital Abuja, the report claims.
The report alleges officers called the soon-to-be dead suspects “rams” or “bush meat.” The police investigations typically employed torture to draw out confessions. The officers drove nails into suspects’ hands or heads, shoved pins into the genitals or hung suspects upside down in a method referred to as “suicide,” the report claims.
Asked about suspects’ rights, the report says one officer in Adamawa State said: “We have seen pastors, imams, and highly placed and respected citizens who are pure criminals, pure criminals! And you people say they are innocent?”
Officers also used nightly prostitute roundups as a means to barter sex from those who couldn’t pay as little as $6 for their release, the report claims. The report describes officers even raping women who came to report crimes at police stations.
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