The Negligence By The Federal Government To Meet The Obligations Of The Nigeria Police Force, Is Most Unfortunate -- Prophet Igbodo

By Emmanuel egbuchinem

   The General Overseer, of Divine Faith Evangelical Mission International, Agbor, Prophet Joseph Igbodo, has frowned at the negligence by the federal government to meet the obligations of the Nigeria Police Force, describing the development as most unfortunate.
   The Cleric, who made the assertion during an interactive session with newsmen recently at his office in Agbor, expressed displeasure over the non commitment of the federal government and major stakeholders in the security sector in meeting the obligations of the rank and file of the Nigeria Police Force, for effective job performance.
   Prophet Igbodo, charged the government, the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force and stakeholders in the security section to be fully involved in providing adequate  sustainable measures and motivational facilities that will add value and boost the morale of the officers, to get them on their toes in combating the high rates of crime and criminal activities in the country.
  Continuing, he noted that the number of the police officers in Nigeria is insufficient to handle the rising cases of criminality in the country; stressing that Nigeria population is increasing daily, hence the need for the federal government to also recruit more qualified manpower, from the thirty six states and the federal capital territory, into the Nigeria Police Force. He urged the police authorities to liaise with the various state commissioners of  police across the country and the federal capital territory to recruit at least Six hundred thousand police officers into the force this year; he further advised that similar recruitment exercise be conducted next year 2021; of which the same number of Six hundred thousand qualified candidates should also be added into the Nigeria Police Force, so that the country can have more than one million police officers before the end of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari; saying, "We have several qualified graduates, both male and female that can do the job effectively, if given the opportunity". He stated that it is not satisfactory for a local government area to have a staff strength of one hundred police officers, because they will not be able to combat criminal activities effectively in their localities; explaining that mere seeing the police patrolling the streets solves a lot of problems, in the same vein, when they are absent from the streets criminal activities become the order of the day.
   The outspoken man of God, noted that the plan by the federal government to withdraw the services of policemen from very important personalities in the country is not the solution to the security challenges in the nation. In his word, "The plan to withdraw the services of police officers as escorts to top politicians and other well meaning individuals in the country, is not the solution to crime"; maintaining, that every important personalities in the country need the services of the Nigeria Police Force.
    Speaking further, The Proprietor of Job Orphanage Home, Agbor, expressed dismay at the way and manner the masses insult and ridicule  police officers, who in return vet their anger by shooting the people; this he noted gave rise to the killing of Eighteen persons across the country while enforcing the current sit at home order by the government. Continuing, he stated that through some findings, he discovered that the police officers in the streets enforcing the lockdown, were not given any allowance, apart from the meager salary which they collect at month end. According to him, "How can you assign policemen to the streets without daily allowance, without bottled or bag of sachet water to drink?, but the government is paying doctors and nurses in Abuja,  daily allowance of Fifty thousand naira and thirty thousand naira respectively; yet the police officers who works 24 hours daily under the sun and under the rain are not considered for such incentives". He gave an illustration, saying, "If a person is mentally derailed and you are advising the person, the advice is useless until the madness has left the person, then when you give him counsel, he will adhere to it. Another instance is that, a person is drunk and is being intoxicated by the alcohol which he had taken, and you are advising him not to take alcohol again, such person will not listen until the alcohol clear from his eyes, before your advice will be useful to him. So, that is exactly what is happening; before  going to buy equipment, vehicles and other required paraphernalia for the police, government should first of all take care of the welfare of the policemen/women, because when they are well fed and properly taken care of; even if it's knife they are having as weapon, because they are peacemakers, they will perform their duties creditably".
    The Prophet of God, disclosed that he had expected the government and other well to do individuals who have been donating money, food items and toiletries to the masses to cushion the harsh effects of the lockdown; to have also donated something to the police officers so that they too can enjoy some incentives while carrying out their assignments. He noted that the state commissioners of police do get lot of rewards and patronages from people who usually come to appreciate them because of their high position, unlike the police rank and file, which is from the Divisional Police Officers (DPO)  downwards that has nothing for their services; in his word, "Nobody recognize them, you will even see the commissioner intimidating them, bullying the DPO with the rank and file officers; such habit is not good".
   The Proprietor of St. Stephen Trust Widows Home, Agbor, frowned at the situation where policemen are buying their uniforms themselves and where a police officer puts on canvas to duty because he does not have a booth to wear; emphasizing that the above scenario is not the fault of the police officers but that of the federal  government who refused to adequately take care of the Nigeria Police Force. Continuing, he stated that even the Inspector General of Police, the Deputy Inspector Generals of Police, the State Governors and the various State Commissioners of Police are also to be blamed for the lapses. According to him, " When you have a hardworking officer working as your subordinate and you do not encourage him, such person will leave you, because no policeman wants to die, they have wives and children". He further revealed that even some police escorts  assigned to elected politicians in most cases are not usually taken care of by such politicians. Prophet Igbodo, noted that majority of the citizenry and government officials  do not have value and respect for the police rank and file. He used the opportunity to  encourage the masses to always appreciate the services of the police officers and desist from being rude to them, but to understand and see them as the Eyes of the Nation; maintaining that until they do that, there wouldn't be any head way for the country.
     He noted that officers of the Nigeria Police Force are well trained, hence no officer is  given a uniform without formal training.
   Conclusively, Prophet Joseph Igbodo, called on the federal government, the Inspector General of Police, the Deputy Inspector Generals of Police, the State Governors, the State Commissioners of Police, the various Area Commanders  and relevant authorities within the security sector to be totally committed in alleviating the difficulties being  faced by the rank and file of the Nigeria Police; knowing that they are always exposed to danger; he urged them to make provisions for daily allowance and  incentives, to serve  as motivation to the officers in order to enhance their unalloyed loyalty and effective service delivery.
      Prophet Joseph Igbodo, The General Overseer of Divine Faith Evangelical Mission International, The Proprietor of Job Orphanage Home and the Proprietor of St. Stephen Trust Widows Home; all in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.

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