Boko Haram: Nigerians fear police harassment after IGP ordered nationwide “stop and search”
By Rotimi Akinola
The deadly activities of Boko Haram seems set to have greater impact on Nigerian lives.
After successive deadly attacks which have killed over 400 people in the last 30 days, authorities across the country are taking security measures which may put Nigerians at some inconvenience – a necessary one, most would agree.
Kaduna State banned street hawking and begging after Tuesday’s attack, a move that will usher in harsher times for the beneficiaries of those “endeavours.”
The Nigerian Police has come up with its own measure – a step it decided to take “to address the intelligence received.”
Police boss Solomon Arase just ordered the “commencement of special stop and search on Roads and Highways nationwide, with emphasis on roads in and out of major cities/towns,” the force said in a statement, Tuesday night.
Some people who spoke with Newsroom are apprehensive some corrupt officers may capitalise on the measure to harass and extort money from Nigerians.
Samuel Bakare who lives in Benue state wonders if the move was well-calculated in the first place.
“At this time, it is critical to note that every security decision must be well accounted for,” he said.
He urged the police not to abuse the opportunity.
“This is going to affect a lot of people negatively because we know how our policemen are,” Lagos-based Taiwo Adeosun told us.
“But since it is for our security, we don’t really have a choice. It is better to be stopped and searched than to be bombed to death.”
Another Lagosian who lives in Badagry believes the measure would work elsewhere but could fail in the country’s commercial nerve center where residents daily endure horrendous traffic.
“Traffic snarls beckon,” Miyonse Amosu said.
“They should expend such exercise only in areas where Boko Haram have strongholds. It would be an effort in futility in Lagos.”
“But the mere fact that they’ve taken the initiative is laudable. It shows the police have joined the army in ridding the country of Boko Haram. It shows our security agencies are uniting.”
Joseph Oderinu who stays in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, said the move, though it would inconvenience Nigerians, is a good one.
“Looks like the country needs a dragnet this time to curb Boko Haram because we all are at risk,” he said.
“Although the searching of vehicles by police could intensify harassment; if the move would help, it should be done.”
Suzanne Ibifuro, also from Port Harcourt wonders if the move would work at all.
“There have always been checkpoints where Boko Haram hold sway and that did little to stop them,” she said.
“The fact is that almost every Nigerian sees police stop and search operations as avenues for officers to collect money from drivers. What is the assurance that they would indeed carry out this exercise as they should? Are there new devices that would be used in this regard?”
Oke Umurhohwo from Abuja commended the police for the move and prayed it would help curb Boko Haram.
“I think it is a good development judging the rise of insecurity within the last few weeks,” he said
“Hopefully it would be fruitful and the men of the Nigeria police would be professional about it so it doesn’t change to another avenue to collect bribes and harass citizens.”
Adetoun Ajayi from Ibadan, Oyo state, said: “I don’t see anything wrong with the directive if bribery is not involved.”
A police source admitted to Newsroom she knew some of her colleagues were already calculating how much they could forcefully take from motorists. The police said it is anticipating such scenario.
“Any unprofessional conduct should be reported at www.stopthebribes.net or nearest police station,” it said.
“Citizens are enjoined to bear with the Nigeria Police Force during this security operation which is a temporary measure put in place to address the intelligence received.”
What do you think?
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