I love the Nigerian police

Over the years, the dignity and honour of police officers in Nigeria has been eroding. As a matter of fact, most people would avoid them like plague. This, however, is certainly connected to the heartless and horrible experience they have had with the policing system. In fact, an average Nigerian will recall with ease a […]

Over the years, the dignity and honour of police officers in Nigeria has been eroding. As a matter of fact, most people would avoid them like plague. This, however, is certainly connected to the heartless and horrible experience they have had with the policing system. In fact, an average Nigerian will recall with ease a dastardly act of a police officer than anything heroic. About two decades ago, I remember the “shandi slogan” Shandi was our own creation for N20. Some undoubtedly unprofessional police officers have had to throw a worrisome number of families into Yuletide tragedy and gushing tears due to the refusal of a recalcitrant, but well-intentioned driver from passing shandi to a police team.

.During the #EndSARS protest, Nigerian police officers became targets for cruelty. It seems most of the youths at that point woke up to a revenge mission as they considered it necessary to take the law into their hands.

Despite the stains on their name, I love them. If you have travelled to nations like the US, UK or Canada, you will absolutely fall in love with their police officers. Sincerely, it is because of how the government treats them. Any government that pays lip service to its police personnel should prepare to bring out the beast in them. If you care less about a man, and give him a gun to protect you, he will only protect you as far as his own protection is guaranteed. Do you wonder why a police team may be invited to a criminal scene, and they get there late, that is if they appear at all? Simple!  Their lives are also not protected. A government that arms its police officers with far less sophisticated guns should expect a less engaging policing.

Everyone cares less about their welfare. Have you ever asked yourself how many pieces of uniform a police officer is entitled to per year? But you wonder why some of them are professionally looking haggard. If I buy my own uniform, feed myself, pay my own rent or get a nuisance of a fee for allowance, how do you expect me to feel I owe my life to you? Police officers have dreams like all of us. They want that mansion too. They want their children abroad too. They want quality health for their families too. They want their lives insured too. They want to be able to meaningfully provide for their families too. Without putting all these within their reach, we may complain and hurl insults at them. Eventually they will remain at best a dehumanising beast or a nettle in our community.

Respect to Nigerian police officers who fell in service! Maximum respect to those still standing. I  will forever love you all!

Samuel Ogunnaike wrote from Lagos.