By Zik Gbemre
While I condemn the evident bad practices of SARS in their operations, which include brutalization, harassment, intimidation and forceful/illegal detention of people, often with the intent to induce bribes and extortions, I however believe that there are far serious issues that needed to be addressed for the said directive to make any difference. I even had a sad experience with these SARS officers recently, precisely on 9th of May, 2018, when I came across them around the Udu road by the railway after DSC Express road junction, in Udu LGA, Delta State (when leaving Warri to Jeremi- Ughelli), all dressed like armed robbers and not officers. And when I approached one of them to advise them on the need to dress appropriately, he nearly pounced on me with so much aggression. If they can act that way towards an elder like me, imagine how they treat younger persons. So, I condemn their acts of reckless abuse of powers as supposed Police officers of the law. And when such officers are caught doing such acts of abuse, they should be dealt with the full wrath of the law.
Having said that, in my own opinion, the renaming/rebranding of SARS to FSARS, is just a change of name that has not addressed the content and root issues affecting the operations of the Police. So, FSARS is still the same with SARS. It is a change of name, period! Publication of contacts of those to reach concerning activities of the Nigerian police is not new. It is always written boldly in every police station that bail is free, but they still collect bail money from suspects and complainants. The saddest part is that without these tips/money from the public, the police cannot run their stations at any level; from Divisional Police Posts/Stations to Area Commanders Offices, down to State Command offices, including AIG Zonal Offices and up to the IG head office of the police in Abuja. And even the IG Monitoring Units. Before a police officer/IPO goes to make an arrest, he/she must be provided with logistic money to and fro to arrest/invite the suspects to the Police Station. If a police man is coming from Abuja to arrest or investigate a case, the complainant must be ready to foot the bills of all logistics. Even the few vehicles provided are not maintained and fuelled as they should.
Where will the officers get money for all these maintenances and fuelling costs? For the Nigerian Police, I hear that apart from the first uniform provided after recruitment, they have to buy their own uniforms, shoes, belts, caps, etc. They are only provided with Ak 47/pistols for free of charge, and that is all. This has obviously left them with no other option than to generate money from these ‘tips’- if I can call it that, to do everything concerning their operations. So, demanding of money from the public can’t stop with a mere Presidential directive or press/public statements.
The Police rely mostly on these tips/money from suspects, complainants and motorists to generate funds which they use to build and equip their offices because most of the old office stations cannot accommodate officers in a particular station. These are glare facts on ground, which nobody, including the media likes talking about. I think the governments at all levels can address all of these issues if enough budgets are provided and given to the police, especially at the Divisional Police level, for their investigations, arrests, prosecutions, logistics/maintenance costs of operational vehicles, which includes adequate fuelling of vehicles, and also provide them with at least up to twenty (20) well-equipped vehicles in every Divisional Police Station/Post, and up to forty (40) vehicles for the Area Commanders offices, and at least one hundred (100) vehicles at State Commands, with enough budgets to cater for both fuelling and maintenance costs. Then provide two set of uniforms for every police officer twice yearly with boots, belts, caps, and other necessary kits, without them having to pay for these things or buy them.
Also, every police officer on duty should be provided with a walkie talkie radio; Provide all free WiFi internet for every Police Station with generators and their fuelling; Provide at least up to four computers and four printers with enough stationaries, ink, etc. in every Police Station; Provide good meals for every police officer on duty so that they won’t go to “mama put restaurants” to eat. Their barracks, which are mostly dilapidated buildings, also needs to be addressed. During the time of Okiro as IG, Warri A Division Barracks was renovated by Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) when he threatened to withdraw their officers attached to them. Since then, the barrack is already getting dilapidating again. All the Police Barracks are glorified ghettos and you wonder if human beings, that are providing security for the public, are the ones living in them. Even their Police Stations are furnished with the tips/money extorted from the public/complainants/suspects/
All these change of SARS to FSARS and publication of police contacts are mere formalities period! Until the above root issues are addressed, we should not expect ‘a miracle performing police officers’ in the country. But if these issues are addressed, then we can hold the police responsible whenever these evident lapses are observed.
Zik Gbemre, JP.
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
