By Samuel Ebiowei
The Nigeria Police Force prides itself as a professional and responsible institution. At all times, its personnel are expected to represent and portray its image positively.
However, over the years, some of its rank and file, by their actions, have given the Force image and reputation challenge. This has translated into a believability deficit for the police. Hardly anyone in Nigeria believes its oft-stated mantra: police is your friend
What is even more worrisome is that despite its best efforts to redeem the poor image before the Nigerian public, some officers are bent on dragging the Force more into the mud.
Recent action and inaction of the newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, Mr. Tolani Alausa, leave much to be desired. The police chief first assumed duty in the state on July 18, 2023 before he was redeployed on another posting and suddenly returned to the state within 48 hours on November 7, 2023.
What is curious about Alausa’s yo-yo deployment is not the frequency as Bayelsa, like many other states, has not enjoyed stability of police CPs. Rather, it is his activities that have raised the eyebrow about his neutrality and non-partisanship in the politics of the state.
In August this year, barely a month after he initially assumed office, Alausa began to manifest the real purpose of his posting to the state. He got enmeshed in the politics of the Nembe-Bassambiri community crisis when he curiously directed the release of five persons arrested with arms. The suspects had been nabbed at a military checkpoint in Otakeme community in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state in a Hilux van. Upon interrogation, it was discovered that they were on their way to Bassambiri.
After a few days, the military handed over the suspects to the police authorities in the state. While Bayelsans were anxiously waiting for the suspects to be paraded or taken to court, the police boss surreptitiously released them.
In the same Bassambiri, before the Inspector-General of Police deployed the Strategic Weapons and Tactical (SWAT) squad in the community on August 12, some persons were killed. But till date, no arrest was made.
A few other cases will suffice. Under CP Alausa’s watch, on October 31, hoodlums shot at two individuals wearing branded T-shirts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Opolo area of the state capital. Their attackers are still at large. Reports indicated that those who carried out this devilish act were allegedly escorted by policemen.
In the early hours of November 1, the residence of a PDP chieftain was attacked with dynamite along Nikton Road, near the home of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the Kpansia axis of Yenagoa. Curiously, the police authorities did not even issue a statement on the dastardly incident neither has anyone been arrested.
There have equally been cases of suspects arrested in connection with theft that were curiously set free. For instance, about 10 persons were reportedly arrested over the stealing of property in the premises formerly hosting the state-owned Niger Delta Television at Gbarain. Suddenly, all the suspects were set free without proper investigation conducted.
On Thursday, November 9, thousands of women wearing black attire and bearing green leaves marched from the Peace Park opposite the Government House to the state police headquarters in protest against the same Alausa. The women pointedly demanded that President Bola Tinubu and the IGP remove the CP over allegations of political bias and inefficiency.
To the women, for a state having an off-cycle governorship election on Saturday, November 11, Alausa had become a risk for his obvious partisanship. His neutrality had been called to question.
In the last two years, Bayelsa has earned the positive reputation of being peaceful and stable. It therefore beggars belief why under Alausa the state is willy-nilly being allowed to suffer serious security breaches.
Also, for a country whose elections have generally fallen short of the globally accepted standards, security officers like Alausa, by their deliberate acts, will continue to make the conduct of elections difficult for the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The police authorities need to continually check the conduct of their officers if they hope to redeem the reputation damage that officers like Alausa cause the institution.
*Samuel Ebiowei, a media practitioner and public affairs commentator, is based in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
