IGP Expresses Concern over the Continued Neglect of the Police Force

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has expressed concern over the continued neglect of the police force.

Egbetokun said the police force he inherited had been neglected over the years.

Speaking during a sectoral debate in the House of Representatives, he said members of the public expect the police to perform and protect them.

He, however, the police force in Nigeria is operating in a difficult environment, due to the neglect in term of inadequate manpower and operational facilities.

According to the police chief, each of the 6,000 police divisional headquarters in the country requires a minimum of four operational vehicles.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), however, said most of them have no operational vehicles, adding that there was now a ratio of one policemen to 1,000 Nigeria, far below one to 40 recommended by the United Nation.

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Egbetokun explained that criminal elements who are aware of the massive shortfall in the manpower and operational facilities of the police force are taking advantage of the situation.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa who led the other chiefs to the green chamber declared that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies were on top of the security situation in the country and that there was no reason for concern.

The CDS then directed others comprising the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla to brief the lawmakers on the activities of their service.

The House has dissolved to the executive session for further legislative action.