Policeman, NSCDC Personnel Exchange Blows in Osun State

 

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has accused the Nigeria Police of brutality, assault and illegal detention of its personnel.

In a statement by the State Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Kehinde Adeleke, the Police Officers in mofty and Police jackets had driven recklessly into an estate being secured by NSCDC operatives to purportedly arrest a suspect.

Kehinde Adeleke said the Police officers on arrival resorted to intimidation after being asked to produce their Identity cards by the NSCDC officers in the estate before they would be able to effect the arrest.

The NSCDC said the Police later mobilized about twenty officers to the estate to assault and inflict bodily harm on the NSCDC personnel as seen in the viral video.

According to the NSCDC, the victim was also handcuffed and taken to Ataoja Police Division before he was moved to the Police headquarters in Osogbo.

But in a statement by the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, alleged the NSCDC officers of preventing the Police from arresting a criminal suspect.

Yemisi Opalola alleged that the NSCDC officers also beat-up and injured two police officers who had come from Oyo State to effect the arrest and also deflated the tires of their vehicle.

Frustrated’ Nigerian Policeman Tenders Resignation Over Poor Pay, Inability To Feed Self

 

A Nigerian policeman, Ugwu Chiemezie, has tendered his resignation over his inability to feed himself and also take care of other basic needs.

The police constable serving at Igbo Eze South Police Station, Ibagwa Aka, Nsukka, Enugu State, in a letter to the area commander and other relevant police authorities, said he was quitting the Nigeria Police Force as a result of hardship occasioned by poor remuneration, welfare and general working conditions.

The letter dated March 25, 2022, reads, “I, PC Ugwu Chiemezie with force 528089 posted to Igbo Eze South Police Station, Ibagwa Aka, humbly put down this letter to request for resignation of my police job.

“The purpose of my resignation is as a result of poor remuneration which is unbearable to me because I find it hard to feed myself with three standard meals let alone self maintenance as a man.

“I appreciate being given the opportunity to join the organisation. Thanks for your approval in anticipation.”

The poor remuneration, working and living conditions of policemen across Nigeria have been a subject of debate in recent times.

Earlier policemen threatened to protest and embark on strike action over their poor remuneration on March 26.

In an open letter addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, the aggrieved policemen stated that they would not accept any pay rise below N100,000 monthly.

The rank and file said that they were being treated like slaves even when they protected other people’s lives at their own risk.

The strike, which they said was long overdue, became an option, according to them, due to the “lackadaisical attitude of the police authorities in representing us before the Nigerian Government”.

Though the strike action did not go ahead as planned, discontent among police personnel over the issues raised remains rife despite denial by the authorities.

It Costs N3 Million To Kit Each Policeman – Lagos Security Trust Fund Boss Says

The Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) says it costs N3 million to fully kit a policeman.

LSSTF executive secretary, Dr Abdurrazaq Balogun, made this assertion during the 15th Annual Town Hall Meeting On Security With The Governor.

Mr Balogun said that security agencies require advanced training, more equipment that would support an intelligence-led approach to crime prevention (drones, trackers, scanners at city gates, gunshot detection devices) and more non-lethal weaponry.

”To fully kit one policeman with uniform, taser, tactical gear (light, knife, jacket, belt, gloves, knee, shoulder, ankle, and boots) bulletproof vest, ballistic helmet, tear gas, push-to-talk on cellular communication equipment, rain gear, etc, will cost at least N3 million per officer.

”Hence to kit 33,000 police officers in Lagos will cost about N99 billion. This is our reality, if we truly want a highly motivated, and fully equipped police force in the state,” he said.

Mr Balogun noted that insecurity is spreading from the north to the south and there is the need to be ready, and to build on the capacity to deal with future challenges.

”As with the Theme of today’s event, we need to “Reconceptualise Safety and Security in Lagos State”.

”Our thinking must be from a point of catering for the well-being of the entire populace. Making people realise they can achieve all they can imagine and providing the support they need to succeed.

”This thinking goes beyond just the provision of hard security architecture but also ensures food security, health security, educational security, social economic security, political security,” he said.

The Chairman, Board of Trustee, LSSTF, Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, said that the LSSTF has continued to play a pivotal role in the enhancement of the security architecture in Lagos State through successive administrations to date.

Mr Durosinmi-Etti said that this is because of the shared understanding of the relationship between developmentand security, as no meaningful development could be achieved without security.