The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, must be living in a fool’s paradise, to have carried on with the belief that Nigerians are naturally gullible and were taken in by his recent unprofessional and ethnically motivated conducts. Now, I’m fully convinced that Nigerians and the global community that are of the view that the IG needs a refresher course on how to do his job in a digital 21st Century, might just be right.
Since assumption office as the IGP, Idris has not only observed police roles in the breach, but has also tragically taken the Nigeria Police deeper into the woods.
Were it not so, why should the IGP position himself as the mouthpiece and protector of those marauding dogs who are killing people all over the country? What are the young Fulani herdsmen doing with AK-47 riffles in the trenches, when modern democratic societies envisage that they should be in schools? What has the Inspector-General of Police done about the herdsmen who proudly carry about sophisticated weapons and willfully terrorise innocent people in states without being arrested and prosecuted?
We are not sure whether or not IG Idris is aware that the roles of the police in modern democratic societies include but are not limited to contributing towards the creation and reinforcement of truth in communities; strengthening the security of persons and property; investigating, detecting and activating the prosecution of offences within the rule of law, and facilitating the free passage and movement on highways and other places so earmarked.
Idris’ problem, it would seem, is lack of good knowledge of the Constitution of Nigeria; understanding the “Rights and Freedoms” of the people, so as to apply that understanding to contribute to liberty, equality and fraternity in human affairs.
why should the IGP position himself as the mouthpiece and protector of those marauding dogs who are killing people all over the country? What are the young Fulani herdsmen doing with AK-47 riffles in the trenches, when modern democratic societies envisage that they should be in schools?
What have we not witnessed of IG Idris’ affinity with the All Progressives Congress and the Buhari government? IGP Idris, like the ones before him, has become more ruthless and subservient to the government in power. He has sold the Nigeria Police to President Buhari and his government. He has no idea about reconciling freedom with security and upholding the rule of law, spontaneously.
One of the many lowest moments of Idris’ profanity was when thugs suspected to be loyal to him almost overran the Senate to protest against several allegations levelled against him, by Senator Isa Misau.
On October 4, 2017, Misau, the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, continued in his allegations bothering on corrupt practices and misconducts, against Idris. Misau, while raising a point of order at the plenary, restated his earlier allegations against the IGP, including the one that he had “secret” wedlock with a serving policewoman, against the public service rule.
The lawmaker had earlier alleged that the police were collecting about N120bn annually from corporate organisations and Very Important Persons for security services, an allegation he restated again on the floor of the Senate. Misau, on that day, reiterated at the Senate session, “It (the situation) has even gone worse. The IGP is having relationships with two policewomen, who he promoted under special promotion. One of them is Aminat and the other is a DSP. To date, President Buhari’s anti-corruption-fighting government has refused to investigate the matter.”
On that occasion, Senator Misau stated, “The IGP, last month, got married to that woman but under the police service rules and regulations, you cannot marry a serving officer unless the person retires. He quickly did a secret wedding in Kaduna because the lady was four months pregnant.
“I am saying all these because of the institution, because we have so many excellent officers who are now demoralised; who are now frustrated because of the activities of the IGP.”
Idris’ evasive response all along has been his counter-accusation that Senator Misau is a deserter from the
police force.
On the recent killings of innocent Benue people by herdsmen, following the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state, IGP Idris’ shocking decision to take sides by lambasting Governor Samuel Ortom for enacting the law was enough to earn him suspension from service. But never! Not here. Besides, what Moshood Jimoh, his spokesman, said about Ortom, calling the governor “a drowning man”, to our surprise, was also ignored by the Buhari government, thus making the situation of things in Nigeria clear to everyone.
The IGP further capped his unprofessional conducts with a statement that the killings of nearly 100 people on New Year night in Benue was a mere “communal clash”. And till now, the same IGP is yet to come up with a permanent solution to the incessant ‘communal clash’ between the farmers and the herders.
The IGP ignorantly or wilfully failed to acknowledge the fact that these psychopathic and sociopathic beasts have attacked Benue farmers more than 50 times, cumulatively. Perhaps, Mr. Idris’ brain could not serve him properly to know that other states of the federation that have recorded massive slaughtering by these homicidal herders have yet to pass any anti-grazing law.
*Ikhide, a public affairs analyst, from from Lagos
