By Evelyn Usman & Olasunkanmi Akoni
LAGOS — Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday in Lagos, said that henceforth, any policeman who harasses journalists would be sanctioned, adding that the era of business as usual in the force was over.

He also said any policeman from the rank of Constable to Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG, who failed a promotion examination three consecutive times would be dismissed from the Force.

He also said 50,000 senior police officers would soon embark on various training courses as part of measures to check the insecurity challenges in the country.

The Acting IG also said following the dismantling of road blocks, his administration had ordered for 300 patrol vehicles to be deployed to all the major roads in the country for effective policing and safety of Nigerians on highways.

Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar; (left)Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State during the IG's visits to the governor, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Abubakar, who spoke when he led senior police officers on a courtesy visit to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State at his office, said 16,000 of the 50,000 would go for intelligence-based police training, 10,000 would go for detective course training, adding that the new Assistant Inspectors- General of Police  were already undergoing a two-week course in Lagos.

Speaking seperately while briefing men and officers of the Lagos State Police Command during his official tour, Abubakar said the initiative was part of his administration’s agenda aimed at galvanizing and preparing the force to rank among the best and most efficient of the 21st century.

The new policies being implemented by his administration, he said, would also engender a paradigm shift and bequeath to the Nigerian nation the police force of choice, which among other things, would have respect for human rights as well as be civil to members of the public.

Warns DPOs

He, therefore, warned that henceforth, any Divisional Policeman who allowed his station to be attacked by hoodlums would be sanctioned accordingly, saying part of their responsibilities included safeguarding the stations and government property.

Such individual, he stressed, should not be spared, sounding a note of warning that on no account should any DPO leave the patrol of his jurisdiction to his subordinates.

He said: “The era of thinking that as a DPO or Area Commander, you have to sit in your office while the rank and file go out for patrol is over. What I expect from all officer is dedication and commitment.

“Also the era, of not seeing a rank and file in the office for sometime and when he comes, the DPO or area commander dismisses him is over. You should endeavour to know what is wrong before carrying out any disciplinary action. This is because these are the foot soldiers and should therefore be giving attention.”

50,000 officers for training

He further disclosed that  about 50,000 senior police officers would soon embark on various training courses as part of measures to boost response capacity to the insecurity challenges and crisis management in the country.

He said all the four premier police colleges in Enugu, Ikeja, Maiduguri and Kaduna would soon be rehabilitated and repositioned to improve the quality of training given to officers at these centres.

Abubakar said the police force was currently on a major transformation process, saying it would soon metamorphose into a people-friendly, effective-crime fighting establishment.

On the patrol vans already ordered for delivery any moment, Abubakar explained: “The security personnel put up road blocks because of certain security issues and when the issue is over, the road block leaves. But we have discovered that in Nigeria, road block have become a permanent feature.

300 patrol vehicles

“They are not doing any good to this country, they are damaging the image and reputation of this great country including the Police Force. So we decided that road block must leave. Thus, I have ordered 300 patrol vehicles and very soon we should expect them in the country. We will use it to patrol all the major roads in the country. The issue of policemen harassing Nigerians is over, illegal detention is over and we are checkmating this very seriously.”

Fashola lauds Police leadership

Fashola in his response, commended the leadership of the present police administration for its commitment to ensuring the security of lives and property of residents “in spite of your difficult working environment“.

He said: “Nothing will have meaning until we intensify law and order. My position is that if more people comply with the law, more people will benefit. If fewer people comply, it is only few people that will gain.

“Our police must pay more attention to everyday crime like rape, assault on women, broken window crime and others. These crimes threaten the fabric of the society. We are losing our capacity to deal with this everyday crime and it is the failure to deal with this everyday crime that escalates to bigger crimes like kidnapping, terrorism and others.”

The governor therefore, stressed, “we must go back to enforce these crimes. The time to make change is now. The time to decentralize the police is now so that we have the federal police complemented by the state police.”