Security agencies in the country are the creation of the Nigerian constitution, which specifies the roles or duties they are expected to perform. The Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of Security Service (DSS), Federal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (FIIB) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are established to perform distinct functions.
While the military (Armed Forces) is charged with the responsibility to defend the territorial integrity of the nation against foreign aggression, the DSS, FIIB and the NIA are charged with the responsibility of gathering and collating intelligent information about potential criminality and internal or external threat against the nations interest.
On the other hand, the Nigeria Police is saddled with enormous responsibility among which are: protection of citizens and residents lives and properties, maintenance of peace, law and order, detection and prevention of civil disorder and crime, as well as checkmating any internal aggression, such as violent protest, communal conflict, conflict of extremism, conflict of kingship, conflict of secession, conflict over land and conflict of social vices such as cultism and religious conflict as well as the trafficking and proliferation of fire arms in the country.
However, from the foregoing, it is evident that the Nigeria Police remains the most challenged security organisation and has a vital role to play in the face of the prevailing insecurity across Nigeria.
This being so, the person to be appointed as the nation’s police boss, must be a competent, patriotic and experienced officer who should be able to confront the herculean task of restoring and maintain law and order in a multi-faceted turbulent insecurity threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria today.
On April 6, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Usman Alkali Baba as the acting inspector General of Police (IGP), and on June 4, 2021, he was confirmed by the Police Council as the substantive IGP.
From all indications Baba is determined to make a difference. This can be seen in his earliest strategic policy direction and his vivid understanding of the complex nature of the intricate social strife and aggressive impunity permeating Nigeria’s landscape at present.
According to Baba, “there are peculiarities; in the North-east and North-central, kidnapping for ransom and banditry are the dominant activities of the criminal elements. In the North-east, the raging aggression remains the heinous activities of terrorist elements. In the South-east the aggression is triggered by secessionists elements and in the South-west is the ferocious agitation of restructuring for what they call true federalism and the herdsmen-menace which, of course, is not restricted only to the region but across the nation. Also, in the South-south we have the intermittent agitation for resource control.
By this, the IG’s clear cut understanding of the complex nature of the insecurity ravaging the citizens’ comfort and the image of the country has giving hope to Nigerians. At least we have an IGP who by his understanding of the root-causes of the general insecurity in the country will deploy his wealth of experience towards mitigating the challenge.
However, IGP Baba said to effectively confront the insecurity in our midst there is the urgent need of checkmating the flourishing trafficking and widespread proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) that are in possession of non state actors which readily becomes active tools of conflict obtained through illicit process.
To corroborate the views of the IGP, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), had alleged that there are over 3 million illegal firearms in the hands of non-state actors in the country. Being conscious of this fact, the IGP has since assumption ensured reinvigoration of the police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and Special Tactical Squad (STS) through the deployment of experts to spy and crack down gun traffickers and local fabricators of firearms. Remarkably, within a month of extensive surveillance across the country, a local gun fabricating hideout was uncovered in Jos South local government area of Plateau state.
More disgusting is the fact that the local syndicate of the guns fabricators were able to locally fabricate AK 47 guns, which, according to the Force PPRO, CP Frank Mba, confirmed that the AK47 rifles fabricated by the notorious syndicate can hardly be differentiated from the original AK47 rifles.
This revelation is a welcome development towards checkmating the proliferation of firearms in the country. It is also noteworthy that the IGP has put in place an effective mechanism whereby security personnel can differentiate local firearms from imported ones. This is pertinent in the effort towards curbing local production of firearms and the illicit activities of cross-border firearms traffickers; presently, the IRT and STS squad of the Nigeria Police are sensitised to identify the enclosed Marking and Tracing Instrument (MITI) of all seized firearms i.e country of manufacture, trade mark, date of import or otherwise and type of weapon.
This will certainly go a long way in verifying the source of firearms, whether locally fabricated or imported as well as assist in the manhunt for local fabricators of arms. However, the foregoing is just an abridged version of the strategic policy direction of the new IGP. Equally important, Baba has demonstrated his determination of restoring the battered image and reputation of the average officers and men of the NPF.
On many occasions, IGP Baba had shown concern about the rightly or wrongly general negative perception of the Nigerian police. The IGP is well aware that the image the average Nigerian has about the police is that of extortion of money from people, collect bribe, arrive late at crime scene, the police are even sometimes accused of collaborating with criminals.
It is this negative perception the IGP is determined to correct. He is determined to restore the lost dignity of an average police man on the street to that of civility and professionalism. However, if all these must be achieved, Baba needs urgent support of President Buhari, the National Assembly, Ministry of Police Affairs and Police Service Commission (PSC).
The funding that comes to the police is inadequate, the rank and file, and middle officers are poorly trained, poorly remunerated and they live in dilapidated barracks across the country. One thing is certain, if the federal government should embark on the planned police reform as promised by President Buhari the operational circumstances of the Nigeria Police can be reformed.
The police institution is an important segment of government that would be too expensive to neglect. By virtue of the police crucial role in the society no amount is too much to be expended to get the best out of them.
If the police as an institution are adequately funded, there would be no reason for the conspicuous presence of the military on our highways and streets; surely IGP Baba can only succeed if he has the support of the political establishment.
Bilal is MD, Royal Publicity Publishing Company, Jos, Plateau state; 08167989085
