Since the Endsars Protest in October 2020,Nigerians had brought up series of hate campaigns on the Nigerian Police activities whether Good or bad.
There is no day on social media that people will not blame an average police man for doing his or her job.
There is no doubt that there is need for an overhaul of the entire Police Force to weed out bad officers engaging in crime and strengthen the force since the assignment entrusted in the hands of the Police by the constitution remains supreme.
For over five years,insecurity in Nigeria has worsened while many had resort to travelling out of the country for better life while those currently staying in the country are not sure about the next day due to insecurity.
Therefore,a lot is needed to be committed to policing which the President, Muhammadu Buhari has laid the foundation by raising the pay of the officers. The second is attitudinal change while the third is good leadership. All this put together will give us a good Police force.
The mindset of an average Nigerian currently is to attack police from doing their job and this will only fall back on the citizen. Some of this attacks are not physical but how we demonise them on social media and reasoning.
Compared to the over 213 million population in Nigeria,we have over 360 thousands policemen with a new plan to recruit 270 thousands police constables to help cushion the effect of crimes in Nigeria.
If National Assembly repeal the act establishing the Police,bandits will go on rampage. Who will then secure us?
The absence of Policing makes the life of an average citizen porous as this would increase the crime rate largely.
Nigerians needs the police to maintain law and order within the society and every attempt to frustrate this aim will only lead to anarchy.
No doubt,social media has really assisted Nigerians to report corrupt Policemen but on the other hand,it has also helped to promote false claims which has raised tension on several occasions.
Which way do we go?
On the 1st of January, 2022,the recently promoted Assitant Inspector General of Police who happens to be the outgoing Commissioner of Police in Lagos State,Mr Hakeez Odumusi visited a private estate in Lagos,”Brooks Estate” and the private security men on duty undermined the Police boss despite his official car and escorts from gaining access into the estate before he acted swiftly as any trained Police officer would do.
If the police boss was in his private car,yes,he needs to submit to the estate security department but he is in his official van,he demands all the courtesy.
A statement from the estate association contains some inciting statements showing the Commisioner came to the estate and arrested security men while they were trying to describe the address he was visiting,how can that be?
This was too sweet to be true. No one will order an arrest for offering an assistance. They can only be arrested for being overzealous.
However, it is pertinent not to abuse social media to solicit public sympathy that can be seen in the statement released while hammering that a widow was arrested and his children for intervening. What is there business at the scene? The confrontation on policemen these days is rife.
Estate guards cannot be higher than the police entrusted to maintain security of lives.
Should In case the estate is infiltrated, the first port of call will be the Police station. So why paint them inefficient when they will still be needed.
It is important as citizens to restore back the rightful regard to the police before we need them and they appear in capable to help.
Written by Tosin Adesile, anipr,arpa