How Sokoto police abandoned observation posts

The 52 observation posts were constructed in 2012 at the cost of N106, 096,426 million following a request by the then commissioner of police in the state, Alhaji Jinjiri Abubakar. The project was financed by the 23 local government councils.It was also gathered that the posts were not meant for the police alone as some […]

The 52 observation posts were constructed in 2012 at the cost of N106, 096,426 million following a request by the then commissioner of police in the state, Alhaji Jinjiri Abubakar. The project was financed by the 23 local government councils.
It was also gathered that the posts were not meant for the police alone as some of them would be allocated to other security agencies.
Sunday Trust gathered that a top government official had kicked against the idea in view of the poor maintenance culture the police were known for, but his advice was not heeded, due to intensive pressure from the then commissioner.
It was also gathered that when the idea was finally adopted and approved by the state council, it was the same commissioner of police who introduced the contractor that did the work.
It was not known whether all the 52 posts have been completed, but the completed ones were either underutilised or abandoned by the police.
Another source close to the government told Sunday Trust that the state government had wanted to formally hand over the structures to the police but for the pleas of one of the designated beneficiaries who requested that the hand- over should be suspended pending the arrival of their overall boss.
Our checks revealed that in all the posts wearing police colours, only the one at Bimasa village, along Sokoto-Gusau road, is being used by the police patrolling the road. The rest, according to the special adviser to Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko on security, Alhaji Harande Mahe (who said he was not part of the decision as he was appointed after the project had been executed), became hiding places for criminals as they were not used by the police.
The one constructed for the police patrolling Sokoto-Shagari road was partially demolished by the construction firm expanding the road.
When contacted, the state commissioner of police, Alhaji Lawal Shu’aibu Gambo, declined comment on the matter.
Another senior police officer in the state, who sought not to be named, said he could not understand the rationale behind the construction of the posts as their work is not restricted to staying in one place.
“It is just a waste of money because the police will not use them. As far as I am concern, the government was not properly advised on this project,” he said.