That the image of the Nigerian Police Force has disappeared is no longer news, but that no success has been recorded in redempting the image of the police is really disheartening. One of the Nigerian comedians said some time ago that the Nigerian Police Force and the NEPA (now PHCN) are the only two natural disasters that we have in Nigeria. Well, while it is rib-crunching sarcasm, it does not provide a pragmatic approach to police transformation and social reconstruction in Nigeria. However, he gives an idea of the level of decadence (ad sum mum) in these institutions.
In this fast-paced, conflict-inflicted environment like Nigeria, the officers and men of the Nigerian police force are faced every day with a series of important, life-changing decisions, amid conflicting and conflicting values and interests that are publicly accessible. They face a variety of ethical standards and dilemmas that may include: tribal biases and interactions, observance of constitutional rights of suspects, treatment of offenders, problems with evidence, and opportunities for occupational diversion. There is a high probability of mistakes, poor ethical decisions and sometimes complete neglect of morality, the consequences of which can negatively affect the agency, the profession, the government and society in general.
Surveillance refers to the measures and practices to guarantee the safety of the members of the community, as well as to guarantee the conformity with the NORMS and VALUES of the society. In fact, the Nigerian Police have failed to meet these responsibilities due to an obvious ethical void and an inability to overcome their genuine moral challenges.
Despite the rise of unethical behavior in society, there is an exception for the police to act ethically on and off duty, and in relation to citizens, although there seems to be no obligation for citizens to act ethically in relation to with the police. . Unfortunately, officers and men are not properly equipped to make informed ethical decisions.
The immediate past IGP in its 9 point agenda had ‘five points’ which focused on morality and the moral challenges of the Police. They include: Transparency/Accountability, War on Corruption/Crime, Public Image/Police Public Relations, Human Rights, and Community Policing. The 9-point agenda that was meant for a total transformation of the Force was misdirected, not implemented correctly, so it can best be described as the act of pouring water on a duck.
Mike Okiro defined accountability and transparency as openness and candor, promising in his inaugural address on June 5, 2007, that transparency and accountability will be the hallmark of his administration in order to “reverse the disdain and the contempt with which police officers are held within Nigeria.” society’. He also promised that “all policemen and men must commit to providing the services that citizens expect in a timely, fair, honest, efficient and transparent manner” and that “society expects nothing less and the new administration will pursue this goal aggressively until its conclusion.” logic”.
Transparency and accountability are attitudinal and bother the mentality a lot, so they require much more than a mere pronouncement and commitment. Promises and oaths have proven useless in ensuring commitment to truth and honesty, especially in Nigeria. Otherwise, all Nigerians would have become saints after forty-nine years of commitment to our country, Nigeria, to be faithful, loyal and honest.
Transparency and accountability require intentionality of act and purpose, development of conviction and commitment to truth and honesty. However, this can only be possible through dedicated training, retraining and monitoring.
The war against corruption is not a war against an enemy; it is above all a war for the self and against the self before the other, victory follows the same. It requires a total change of self, the complete deconstruction of the current police mentality, belief and worldview that breeds corruption. It is therefore a war that must first be won internally, and like the light that shines in the darkness, it manifests itself externally, dispelling corruption in all its dimensions. This explains why the Police have failed in this.
Policing has become more community based; therefore, accountability to the public has become a very relevant issue that affects the provision of police service. The police, as a criminal agency, have a responsibility to safeguard the rule of law and take into account the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals. In any democracy, policing requires high levels of integrity to be acceptable. The police must guarantee public confidence so that the system fulfills its mission to the fullest and recovers its public image. It has become highly critical to ensure that Officers and Men are equipped with the knowledge and skills that will enable them to make informed ethical decisions, thereby greatly minimizing the degree of error in ethical judgment and unethical behaviour.
In 1997, the International Association of Chiefs of Police made it clear that Police Ethics training has become the greatest need for Police training and leadership today and into the next century. They further admitted that most departments do not conduct ethics training and that nothing is more devastating to the policing profession than uncovered scandals or uncovered acts of misconduct and unethical behavior by officers.
It has become clear that only properly educated and trained police officers can adequately respond to the moral and ethical dilemmas of their profession. It is only a police officer who is able to resolve these dilemmas properly that he can carry out his duties professionally and for the benefit of the community. And finally, in doing the above, he cannot rely solely on his intuition and experience. Hence the need to reinforce ethical values in police action, through training in the principles of police ethics, moral reasoning, ethical decision-making and standards of ethical conduct in the profession, without which the image would not be saved. of force and the war against corruption not won.
Police ethics is a branch of applied normative ethics, establishing a link between ‘theory’ and ‘practice’ and making ethical theory accountable to practice and professional practice accountable to theory. It is the application of the principles of ethics applied to the police profession.
From the above, it is obvious that the Nigeria Police Force is facing a serious moral crisis, which has cancerously eaten away at the heart of the institution. Although some have argued that the police state is a reflection of society, therefore, as part of society, it cannot be different at all. While this is definitely true and logical, I consider it escapism.
I remember with such hope and optimism the likes of David Apaegee, Francis Iheanacho, Ovat Etim, Yakubu Idakwo and Usang Benjamin, aptly described as ‘The Fantastic Five’ by Ken Ugbechie. These officers returned the wallet containing £100,000 worth of credit cards, ATM debit card, cash and other valuables. Ken Ugbeche reported that, as men under intense financial pressure to steal, pinch, and poach, they did not submit to the lure of profit and the lure of perfidy, but banished thought and fantasy from the volume of assets they had. I could buy with 100,000 pounds and sew chastity and honesty.
Unlike another breed of policeman whose deeds were written in ink with ignominy, infamy and gut-wrenching hatred, these men dared to be Daniel, dared to stand alone as role models, moral leaders and the hope of a new Nigeria.
As promised by the Inspector General of Police Mr. Ognonna Onovo; “by the time we complete the reforms we will have the kind of police force that will stand up to our colleagues around the world”, honest efforts must be made to achieve this, to ensure that the police reach a level of moral conscience and are adequately equipped to make informed ethical decisions like ‘The Fantastic Five’.
Ubechie’s conclusion that the Fantastic Five deserve further training to prepare them for greater responsibilities on the force and should be encouraged to rise to the top, because that’s where men like them belong, is strategic for a rebranding. real and sustainable development of the Nigerian Police Force.