POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS  

POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS   

BY: Balami Lazarus     

I have had a long relationship with the police in my official capacity as the Head of Operations of National Crime Prevention Campaign (NCPC), Security Liaison Officer/ Coordinator of my Neighbourhood Watch and have also served on some security committees. Therefore, this piece is from an insider who knows the police as a law enforcement agency.

One of the noble establishments of government is the Police Force where leadership is carried out and conducted properly with the interest of the citizens at heart. The police as an arm of government with its men are the close uniformed operatives to the members of the public that can be reached easily and called upon in case of an emergency. This singular establishment has been policing this country pre- independence and to date.

They are mandated by the law to protect lives and property, maintain law and order, prosecute and lawfully detain suspects and keep them in their custody in the cause of their duty.     The new Police Act and Regulations (2020), section 338 which emphasized on the good name of the Force and her officers has this “every police officer is required to use his best endeaviour to uphold the good name of the Force, and further good relations with the public ”.

In furtherance of the good name of the Force, it also says “courtesy, forbearance and helpfulness in dealings with members of the public.” This tells you good the Force and her men are supposed to behave and act in policing the public but her men and their divisions stink in corruption and brutality.     When you see the roles and performance of the police in other countries including the respect and support they are accorded by their citizens you will agree that they are really an organization of government to be gladly reckon and relate with in all facets of human activities in a given society.

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But here in Nigeria, is a different ball game altogether because Nigerians and police relation is that of trusted liked the fox.     Many Nigerians nearly all have lost confidence in the police because of their attitude and unfriendly behaviours towards the public with their money driven intention. Worse among them are the Non- Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and the charge rooms. Other police units like Patrol and Guard (P&G), Road Blocks and Special Operations Unit are not left out in this shameful act of demand and wrongful acceptance of gratification.     Our police and her men are one of the disliked.

In fact, most hated government establishment in Nigeria as a result of their corrupt nature and uncivilized manner of policing/ public relations. This has made many people to be skeptical in cooperating with the police in giving them vital information. Citizens’ preferred to remain silent and strictly applied the “omerta” , the Mafian oath of total silence. This reminds me of a hinterland community that rendered the presence of police outposts of no use to them. And you automatically know why.     

Police charge rooms in various stations around the country are minting press. These charge rooms mint more money of various denominations than our Security and Minting Corporation (NSMC). Why do I say so? I have taken a good look at a particular divisional police station. The station is in Masaka district of Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. This station is like a market place where negotiation is at its peak between policemen, suspect’s relations, complainants, accused persons and cash begins to exchange hands. This happens on a daily basis.

Other individuals that have legitimate business to do with the station must without their intention part with a certain amount of money before or after he/ she has been attended to. It has been alleged that the officer-in-charge of the division (DPO) is said to be given chuck of the bribed money collected weekly. For our police to make a breakthrough in internal security, efficient and effective policing and to be fully acceptable by Nigerians the bad eggs must continue to be flush out from the Force. They are like the Bubonic plague that ravaged Europe and Asia in the 14th century called the “Black Death”.   

Balami, a Publisher/ Columnist    08036779290

POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS