By Jonah Okah

The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has suffered image crisis over the years on allegations of corruption and incompetence. Though  the issue of corruption  is a generally an endemic problem pervading , all  institutions in Nigeria.  It touches the judiciary, civil service, military, banking sector. Therefore, it is misplaced to selectively isolate that of the police.

In spite of the corruption accusations, especially in all sectors, there are still good ones among the rotten elements which gives a negative image as if all are corrupt.

On the allegations of incompetence, no objective and dispassionate mind will hesitate to dismiss it, as a warped view from puerile and malicious perspectives. The Nigeria Police Force has proven its competence and excellence in service both in local and international peace and security operations and have earned Nigeria a pride of place in the comity of nations.

Most times one feels pity for the country’s Police for the thankless service it renders in the fight against crime, ranging from task of contending with men of the underworld, to that of strong men in power over corruption, economic sabotage and sundry crimes.

Interestingly, no one bothers about the challenges of poor motivation, lack of  poor reward system, poor equipment and the poverty of financial security after retirement from service. Still,  the Police continue to receive unnecessary bashing of unwarranted accusations, making them vulnerably defenseless.

In Bayelsa State, there is no doubting the fact, that, until now it was a hot bed of epic battles waged by men of the underworld, like the Hobbesian state, where lives became short and brutish, with increasing wave of cult related killings, piracy and pipelines vandals and activities of kidnapping becoming the order of the day.

In response to the wild state of insecurity, the Bayelsa State Police Command set up a special squad nicknamed PUFF ADDER to confront headlong the  activities of the dare devil criminals in the nooks and crannies of the Bayelsa landscape, with a no nonsense operational officer, a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, Chris  Nwaogbo.“The mandate of CSP Chris Nwaogbo led operation team was specifically to restore peace and security in conjunction with other operation command, backed by the motivational-spirit conscious Police Commissioner, Mr. Aloyenu Francis Idu of the Bayelsa State Command.

This also came on the heels of daily reports of bank robberies in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, one of which claimed the life of a legal practitioner, Mr. Abel Uzi who was gunned down and the fund on him from a bank was taken away in broad day light.

The Chris Nwaogbo led Puff Adder special squad swung into action like the baptism of fire, conducted discreet investigations, arrested the suspects and brought them to book, a result oriented operation that elevated the Bayelsa Police Command and leading the residents of Yenagoa to give the police a thumb up.“Banks are today enjoying absolute peace and security in the state, as the police has put in place strategic measures to forestall further occurrence. 

The Puff Adder special squad is the most dreaded security intervention squad in the state. The fear of Puff Adder is widely believed to be the beginning of wisdom, which can be compared to Panti in Lagos, where positive results in the fight against crime are recorded.“With the crack team of investigators, those who have the privilege to know the high risk the CSP Nwaogbo led team takes, often wonder how they are going about achieving the relative peace and security in the state.

Of course, the fight against criminals is not a tea party. While citizens are enjoying the comfort of their homes, these great men and women of courage who have signed the contract to provide security are busy sacrificing their energy, comfort and putting their lives on the line by going to criminal hideouts in the creeks,  the sea and on the land.

There are many temptations that often come their way in terms of mouthwatering offer of bribes by suspects and their god fathers, among whom are politicians to scuttle justice, which is a no mean task.“Recounting their challenges of resisting one of such bribe offers, CSP Chris Nwaogbo threatened to arrest a high profile politician who attempted to bribe him with N50 million, to circumvent the cause of justice, over a suspect under investigation for a case of kidnapping, in which the team successfully rescued the victim and made the kidnapper to face the full weight of the law.“

“So, when people make hasty generalisation about accusing the police of corruption, it kills the morale of good and decent officers with conscience in discharging their duties.““The Commissioner of Police of the Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Aloyenu Francis Idu, is not left out. In the course of his duty, he severally resisted bribe offers, one of which was about N500 million. This was an exciting moment in his career and service to the nation.“

“This is understandable why CSP Chris Nwaogbo, the czar in the fight against crime in Bayelsa, expressed his anger and frustration at close quarters, regarding what he described as frivolous petitions against him recently by the Baylesa State branch of the Nigeria Bar Association which he said:“““My brother in case you don’t know, Puff Adder stopped the kidnapping of bank managers and  business men in this town called Yenagoa. Since after the arrest of a popular kidnapper (name withheld) and his gang, have you heard of kidnapping again in Bayelsa?

The NBA have not told anyone her problems if there is any please. I’m even tired of risking my life in the creeks of Bayelsa State. How many police officers have you heard in Nigeria that goes to the creeks to rescue victims of kidnapping or you think it is an easy task? Yet NBA will not give me fair hearing and just jumped into conclusion in writing frivolous petitions. When you lose my kind of officer you will understand what insecurity is all about” he said.“

“CSP Chris Nwaogbo further stated that, “Puff Adder will continue to operate within the ambit of the law and will not succumb to any form of blackmail by politically exposed few members of the NBA who are out to blackmail Puff Adder in a bid to cover up their failed agenda to undercut the cause of justice.

When Puff Adder arrested the armed robbers that killed their colleague called Abel Uzi, and was charged to court and was freed by the court under questionable circumstances, yet, NBA Yenagoa Branch lost its critical and pretentious voice. In other states, NBA is a partner in progress in the fight against crime”.“Interestingly, even against all odds, the operation Puff Adder has busted over 50 cases of kidnapping and high profile cases of armed robbery which they have been brought to book. Among these cases are the kidnappers of an aged 115-year-old Chief Titus Isu, the kidnap of Emmanuel Ogodo and Osazuwa Micheal, Staff of Azikiel Company, others are Vivian Obinna Okoye, one Dr. Ogregede Ileimokumo, Chief Pichard Seiba, the Paramount ruler of Okordia clan and several cases which the team has brought the perpetrators to book.“

“With the full assistance of the security conscious governor of the state, Senator Douye Diri, the Chris Nwaogbo lead Puff Adder in conjunction with CP Aloyenu Francis Idu, Bayelsa has become the most peaceful and secured in the Niger Delta and in indeed in the southern part of Nigeria generally.““It was against this background of the heroic exploits of the Chris Nwaogbo led Puff Adder, that a former Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa, CP Hilary Opara recommended  him and other officers for special promotions on account of their exceptional performance in combating crime.“

“There is no doubt, even ardent critics of the police in Bayelsa have lavishly conceded the fact that, since the creation of Bayelsa State, the fight against crime by Puff Adder is the best thing that has happened.““They have proved against the nay sayers that police is a friend indeed contrary to the misconceptions by some segments of the society.“

“Therefore, the police deserve the support and understanding of the general public as the business of security is a collective responsibility of all.““We must appreciate those who sacrifice their comfort for the peace and security of all in the midst of poor reward system. It is not an easy task in the fight against crime in an oil rich state like Bayelsa.“

“This is where the Inspector General of police, IGP, need to reinvent a new reward system by identifying officers like those at Puff Adder and other intervention operations, including CP Aloyenu Francis Idu for special promotions for the uncommon courage and result oriented strategy in reducing crimes in Bayelsa to that of the most peaceful state.““The Force Headquarters and the Police Service Commission need to reject the worn out saying that police reward is in heaven. Police officers are humans and deserve the best of motivation and reward while on earth. They have families and responsibilities; so no amount of reward is too much for their priceless sacrifices for the general good of the citizen to sleep with their eyes closed.“

“The federal and state governments should take cognizance of the fact that, there is an inseparable nexus between security and sustainable development. This is where they should go beyond the golden handshake and precepts by identifying fine officers like Chris Nwaogbo who leads Puff Adder under the committed leadership of CP Francis Itu and consider them for life changing reward both by the Force Command and the State government. On the part of  officers at the Puff Adder, they should not let up the fine spirit in them, despite the daunting challenges and the distractions by arm-twisting critics. History will certainly vindicate  their historic exploits in the fight against crime, as their rewards will certainly come in the fullness of time.

•Okah, a legal practitioner and journalist, lives in Yenagoa.