By its decision to set up a Special Police Unit “to provide adequate security for the elite in the country,” the Nigeria Police Force has unwittingly leaned towards discrimination in the provision of its service. Under its enabling laws, including the 1999 Constitution, such selective service is not permitted. The force is to provide sundry law and order duties for all categories of Nigerians, under the Police Act. While there is a need to provide adequate security for the elite, there is a corresponding need to provide adequate security for the non-elite citizens, and indeed, for all categories of Nigerians.
 
A Special Police Unit, when many hapless citizens are being killed during peacetime, speaks volumes about the low performance rating of the NPF regarding the security of Nigerians. It not only smacks of discriminatory policing, but strongly suggests an initiative of being a money-spinner for the police and officers involved.
 
Speaking of late during the passing out of 50 participants of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 23 Minna, which was held at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, the Commander, Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 23 of the Nigeria Police Force, Minna, Niger State, Mr Hassan Sani, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), explained that the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, set up the unit due to increasing demand for elite protective services in the country.
 
For two weeks, the 50 operatives were exposed to a comprehensive training programme designed to instil discipline and sharpen practical skills with the training modules covering combat parades and formation, escort and convoy movement, VIP protection, firearms handling and shooting range, martial arts and self-defence, as well as first aid and basic firefighting skills. While the acquisition of these skills is important as part of police training, the skills are applicable to every citizen, not just the elite.
 
The primary duties of the NPF, as outlined in the Police Act and operational guidelines, include the prevention and detection of crime, the protection of lives and property, maintaining public order, traffic management/road safety, and apprehension of offenders, as police officers are trained to track, arrest, and present criminals before court of law.
 
In addition to working closely with prosecutors and the judiciary to ensure that justice is served to all, the Nigerian Police Force is charged with gathering intelligence, conducting surveillance, and carrying out operations aimed at curbing crime nationwide, while also contributing to national security efforts against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery.
 
Through community policing strategies, the NPF engages local communities to build trust, gather intelligence, and resolve disputes through peaceful and nonviolent means, even as it provides security and escort services for high-profile individuals, including governors, judges, and members of the National Assembly, among others.
 
Presently, the protection of Nigerians by the police is in jeopardy, as indicated in the unending loss of lives and property across the country. In such an atmosphere, the elite cannot be safe, no matter the safety rings formed around them by poorly resourced policemen. So, if everybody is protected, the interest of the NPF is also protected, as there would be little or no need for the establishment of special units to protect the elite.
 
Making special security arrangements for VIPs is an albatross. Besides worsening the security situation, it also makes political offices overtly attractive and unnecessarily expensive.
 
Apparently concerned about the misuse of the police, Egbetokun, on assumption of office, vowed to withdraw Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel from VIPs. But as always, many similar pronouncements of IGPs in the past have come to nought and are of no consequence.
 
Last month, a viral video showed actress Angela Okorie being escorted by gun-toting police officers while jogging on a major road. Even though the Nigeria Police Force expressed displeasure at such conduct of armed police officers, stressing that it was inconsistent with the professional standards and decorum expected of them, many scenes like that take place across the country daily.
 
Last May, another video also circulated nationwide, where some Chinese nationals were handing over naira notes to police operatives. Like the Okorie’s case, the issue also sparked national outrage.
 
Yet, the police are presently unable to carry out their main duties. Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State recently lamented, during an interview with DW Hausa, that only 39 police officers (with only nine guns) were patrolling one local council in the state, which comprises 10 wards and over 200 villages. “We have come up with an initiative that for any community ready to defend itself, we will give them the necessary support and training to engage criminals before the arrival of the security agents,” Radda added.  
 
According to the United Nations, one police officer should be assigned to every 450 people for effective policing. Nigeria, with a population estimated at 206,139,589, would thus require an average of 2.5 million officers nationwide.  While VIPs represent a mere 1.09 per cent of the country’s estimated 200 million people, the implication is that 150,000 of the current 370,800 police officers are assigned to VIPs and private individuals. Equally worrisome is the fact that amid the lean resources that the nation is grappling with, the Federal Government spends a whopping N131 billion yearly on salaries for police officers designated as escorts/orderlies.
 
Not long ago, a retired Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr Solomon Arase, explained that assigning police personnel to politicians and VIPs was not originally in the Nigeria Police Force Act. Arase noted that those who are benefiting from the services manoeuvred their way through the leadership of the police to get escorts. According to him, it constitutes an aberration to assign a large chunk of police personnel to individuals and the so-called VIPs.

“Look at the National Assembly, for instance, over 109 Police personnel are detailed there; by the time you add those attached to individual politicians and their wards, you will realise that security in this country is for the elite at the expense of the common man. Unfortunately, this is even as we cry that the police are understaffed. Don’t forget that releasing these personnel to the politicians and VIPs is not free. So, the beat goes on,” he added.
 
Rather than expend limited resources on a few privileged and rich people, the NPF should take seriously its task of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and carry out operations aimed at curbing crime nationwide to make society safe once again.
 
The Police must be concerned about the huge deficit in its current services, and should be alive to redressing this by upping its responsibility to protect the lives and property of Nigerians as well as maintaining law and order in the country.