Former Police Commissioner in the Federal Capital Territory, Lawrence Alobi, has expressed worries about the growing role of the military in handling security matters within the country.
He said that the armed forces were now doing many tasks that were usually handled by the Nigeria Police Force.
Alobi told Arise News that this situation shows the increasing difficulties the police are having in keeping order and enforcing the law throughout the country.
He asked the government to improve the Nigeria Police Force’s ability, staff, and tools so they can better deal with security problems.
He said, “The military, which is supposed to focus on dealing with external threats, are now out on the streets handling police work.
“The law says the military should help the civil authority, like the police, but the military has started taking over the police’s job. They are really stressed out, and we’re stuck in a problem. The police don’t have enough people or tools to do what needs to be done.”
Alobi said the drop in how well the police are doing their job is because of low pay and government interference, which has made the force less professional.
He said, “The Nigeria Police is the poorest paid in the world, and the political influence is also ruining the police. Politicians trying to tell the police what to do can make them lose their professionalism and lead to bad behavior and dishonesty.”
To make sure people are safe and secure, as required by Section 14(b) of the Constitution, Alobi said there should be more money given to the police.
He expressed sadness about the current situation, saying, “unfortunately, the police have been ruined and there’s nothing they can do anymore.
“The society is struggling because the police don’t have enough people to handle their work. Their well-being is not good and they don’t have the right tools or resources.
“When they get a distress call, they can’t go to the scene. Security in the 21st century is driven by technology and based on intelligence, and intelligence comes from gathering information.
“When information is collected from people and carefully studied, it becomes useful intelligence that can be used to take action.”
The retired police commissioner also asked citizens to help security agencies by sharing helpful information, which can support efforts to prevent crime and enforce the law.
