BY JAPHET ALAKAM

The Police is one of the institutions established by the Federal government for the protection of rights, enforcement of laws and regulations in the country and ever since it was established the police have been carrying out its duties to the best of their knowledge despite the daunting challenges that confront them daily in the course of the work.

But one fact that is clear is that despite the closeness of the police and the civil society many people do not know much about the police, the dangers in the work, the financial challenges, the bad eggs in the system and why corruption still thrives in the system despite spirited efforts by various Inspector Generals of Police.

Many people have written books on the Nigeria Police but the latest addition titled The Man Police: Nigeria Police in Perspective written by a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Prince Benjamin Ayodele Folurunsho could be regarded as a candid appraisal of the police and their work in a third world country like Nigeria.

Folorunsho who came from a royal family from Kabba in Kogi State as attested to by some of his superiors who commented on the book is one of the few policemen that served and retired honourably from the Nigeria police.

The 180 pages book published by Beafor Co Ltd, Lagos begins with the biography of the author, where he tells the reader where he came from, his early challenges and how he joined the Nigeria police.

In the second chapter, the author as an intelligent scholar brings to focus the record of his working experiences as a general duty policeman, the various assignments he carried out in the course of his job and the records of his working experiences at the dreaded Criminal Investigation Department. Here, Folorunsho gave a bit by bit account of the various high profile investigations he carried from 1965 to 1989 and his contributions as a member of the Special Military Tribunal from 1985 to 1987.

In chapter four in what could be regarded as the author’s purpose of writing the book, the author reproduced the text of the lecture he delivered to the students of Command and Staff College, Jaji in 1990. Here the author x rays the historical background of the Nigeria Police Force, the various formations it passed to the present formation, the post- Independence NPF, the constitutional functions of the Police force, the relationship between Nigeria Police and other law enforcement agencies, the Nigeria Police and good public image and the future of the Nigeria Police.

In his submissions, the author appealed to the members of the armed forces and other arms of the Federal agencies to always endeavour to assist the Police so that the Police will function effectively.

The hazards the author encountered in the force were highlighted even as he also reproduced the various letters of commendations he received from different head of organisations for his exemplary service.

From the grape vine, the author suggests some of the possible ways the government will adopt in order to have a virile Police force in the country. He then advice the government not to undermine the maintenance and welfare of the police.

To buttress his point, he cited cases of how Nigeria Policemen who went on peace keeping duties outside the country excelled but coming back home they will not perform. So the need to equip the police with the operational materials, provide adequate accommodation, pay them very well will make them put in their best and at the same time help in reducing the level of corruption in the system.

And also due to recent developments in the country, the author calls for the decentralisation of the Police into six geographical zones.

Some general information and security awareness tips for the public were provided in the book and the author concluded with facts on how criminals found their way into the Nigeria Police.

The well researched educative and instructive book coming from the stables of one who saw it all in the Police is a book that has most of the answers to the numerous questions asked about the Police. Though ,there were some tacticalerrors but that notwithstanding,having read it, I therefore recommend it to all especially young Nigerians aspiring to join the Police Force.