On Wednesday, September 21, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, ordered the arrest and prosecution of a human rights activist, Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola, for directing an assault on her police orderly, Inspector Teju Moses.
Also arrested along with Abiola was her maid, Rebecca Echinado, for inflicting injury on Inspector Moses on the directive of Prof. Abiola.
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According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adjobi, who said the police were also going after a male servant of the professor, the three grievously assaulted the police woman, attached to her as her orderly at her residence in Garki Abuja, “due to the refusal of the orderly to breach professional ethics by carrying out menial and domestic chores at her house’’.
A video clip went viral on Wednesday last week, where the officer is seen in uniform bleeding, seated on the floor and asking to be taken to the hospital.
We condemn the attack on the police personnel and urge the force to ensure that justice is done in the matter.
While it is the duty of the court to decide the culpability of the accused, this incident brought to the fore a major problem that is facing our policing system. It is no understatement to say many policemen have faced or are facing similar treatment from their principals.
Over the years, thousands of police officers have been deployed to provide protection to individuals even though no law has given them that right. This practice has been on for long and in many instances such personnel are made to engage in menial duties. Some are even attached to wives of officials and in some cases their children.
Nigerians have seen images where such officers were reduced to carrying handbags or umbrellas for their principals or asked to harass other Nigerians. We may likely see more of these unwholesome use of law enforcement agents as political campaigns begin.
This is a clear departure from the primary duties of the police which is to safeguard lives and property of citizens.
It is more disheartening that over the years, every inspector general of police, on his appointment would order the withdrawal of police officers from those who are not qualified to have them, but the situation has remained the same.
It is such that the statement has now come to be known as the opening remark of a new inspector general of police, one not to be implemented. Daily Trust believes that this situation should not be allowed to continue in the interest of the nation and the police authorities must immediately put a stop to it.
Nigeria is facing one of the worst crisis situations in its history. From the activities of bandits to those of kidnappers, terrorists, rapists, armed robbers and many other criminal elements, the nation needs the service of every law enforcement agent under its employ.
Thousands of our military personnel are deployed to serve in various hot spots of the nation due to the inadequacy of police personnel.
According to the INTERPOL, Nigeria has a total police population of 350,000. For a country of more than 200 million this is grossly inadequate. It is, therefore, unfortunate that even with this dismal situation, the force can still deploy some of its men to a few elite.
This practice also further erodes the professionalism of the force as such officers are not exposed to the new ways of policing, just as it creates indiscipline within the force as those attached to the `big men’ may over time pay more allegiance to their principal than to their superior officers.
We strongly believe that it is time for the IGP to take a very serious look at this practice. He should ensure the withdrawal of police personnel deployed to individuals except those authorised by the law. Even in such cases he should ensure such individuals or offices are given only the required number of personnel. We frown at the practice where many policemen are deployed to government houses where they do little. The IGP can liaise with other services, such as the Department of Security Service, which also deploys its staff to such offices.
Nigeria is facing several security challenges and requires its police personnel to be deployed to critical areas. This IGP must put a stop to this practice.
