AIGs, CPs to account for rights abuses
ACTING Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has unveiled a special package for men and officers of the Nigeria Police.
Except there is a change in the plan, the minimum wage for policemen shall be N50,000 by the end of this month.
This is among the packages and other steps the Police High Command has taken to improve the welfare of officers and check corruption in the service.
Abubakar, who disclosed the plan of his administration to sanitise the police, said the Federal Government was winning the war against terrorists in the country.
He pledged to bring to book anyone caught for terror-related activities as well as hold top police chiefs responsible for the violation of the rights of innocent Nigerians by their subordinates.
Abubakar noted that terrorists' attacks on police stations nationwide had declined because of the relentless war his administration had waged on them.
The IGP spoke yesterday when he visited Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola in Alausa, Ikeja.
Fashola had reiterated his call for state police. According to him, "the time to make change is now. The time to decentralise the police is now; so that we can have the federal police complemented by the state police. And I believe that it is no longer debatable anymore. It is to put safety measures in place in order to prevent abuse. If we continue with what we have done in 50 years and we expect different results, it will not work. We must have the courage to make changes."
Apparently giving account of his stewardship, Abubakar said: "We have made several arrests of these hoodlums and will not fold our arms over criminality and any act of crime. Before we came on board, police stations were burnt freely. I refer to them as hoodlums because they are so. No matter what they call themselves, whether Boko Haram or any other name, we categorise them as hoodlums and criminals. We would soon call you to see our success, we have achieved a lot."
The IGP noted that henceforth, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) would be held responsible for any human rights abuses against Nigerians by other ranks in the Police.
Abubakar's reason is that the AIGs and the CPs are the representatives of the police management team in their commands and therefore would be liable for any actions or inactions of their men.
He said his administration was eager to correct the misdeeds of the police in the area of respect to human rights and other actions that have painted the police in bad light.
"Commissioners of Police (CPs) and AIGs would be held responsible for actions and inactions of their officers and men. They would be held responsible for any human rights violation and abuses in any state of the federation. The era of policemen checking vehicle particulars is over. We have to respect the citizens and not intimidate them. Henceforth, policemen caught driving against traffic would face the law of the land," he said.
Abubakar continued: "We are working to ensure that a constable receive a minimum wage of N50,000 per month. We are also planning towards a cheap housing scheme for policemen in Kaduna and Port Harcourt since that is where we have enough land. The President is ready to transform the police; he has your interest at heart. You have to work hard now to remain a member of the Nigeria Police institution. The era of policemen who cannot read or write are over. If they send you on a course and you fail an examination for three times, you will be sent out of the job. Our vision is to build a well-motivated police force. We need the co-operation of every Nigerian to realise this vision and protect the nation."
Fashola had remarked that no meaningful development could take place until Nigeria gives priority to the observance of law and order.
"My position is that if more people comply with the law, more Nigerians will benefit. If a fewer people comply, it is only a few citizens that will gain. And it ranges from our behaviour and attitude to enforcement of law to voluntary compliance with law in the country," Fashola said.
The governor said the Police must pay attention to crimes such as rape, assault on women, burglary and others. "These crimes threaten the fabric of the society. We are losing our capacity to deal with this everyday crime and it is the failure to deal with them that escalates to bigger crimes such as kidnapping, terrorism and others. Therefore, we must go back to fight these crimes. And I do not know when last we prosecute cases of rape, all we have now is violence, murder and crimes against the state."
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