Nigerian top political class and business heavyweights have continued to defile the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the federal republic of Nigeria, which said that dignitaries, private individuals and other public office holders should not have policemen attached to them to the detriment of the general public.
As a matter of fact, our team of reporters gathered that the Inspector General of Police appears handicapped and helpless to carry out the order because of the personality of the individuals that fall within this category. A security expert who preferred anonymity told NewsBits that it was for that reason that almost two years after PMB gave the order to the Police boss, he has not been able to implement the directive.
He said, “We are still awaiting the IG to carry out the orders of Mr. President, but the truth is that the man (IG) knew he has a tall order because the people we are talking about are not ordinary Nigerians. These are individuals that are politically exposed, very, very rich individuals that can even determine the fate of the IG, top businessmen and decision makers and what have you. So how do you expect the IG to carry out such orders? That is why some of us are constantly campaigning that the government should ensure that we establish strong institutions and not strong personalities that would be above the laws of the land.”
In continuation he added, “This sort of practice is worrisome to some of us because in a country where we are battling all sorts of crimes with deficient policemen, it is wrong to find a large number of these officers permanently attached as escorts to these dignitaries; some serving as security details at offices, while other serve as guards at homes of the dignitaries. People have generally reduced an honourable profession like the police to mere errand boys. It is a sad development. Recall that it was far back in August 19, 2015 that the President gave the order. He specifically ordered the IG, then Mr. Solomon Arese to withdraw policemen attached to dignitaries and redeploy them to regular police duties. But nothing of such has happened.”
The media widely reported then that the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, had announced then that the president gave the directives at a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Police Service Commission at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Weeks long observations by our reporters show that the police authorities still deploy their officers in protection duties to well-to-do individuals and head of government agencies.
