Since August 1st this year that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan appointed Mr. Suleiman Abba CFR as the Acting Inspector General of Police, roadblocks by Police had re- appeared in several highways across the nation. Expectedly, a person who holds such position is bound to come up with ideas and innovations to distinguish his tenure from that of his predecessor but the differentiation ought not to have been based on issue capable of eroding further the already suited credibility and integrity of the police.
The alibi the police gave for re-introducing roadblocks is like over-stretching the semantics of the word roadblock. Even if the police calls the absurdity such other names such as checkpoints, special routine operation or general checking, the motive remains the same- the exploitation or extortion of money from the motorists.
Strikingly, the criticism against the return of roadblocks is not intended to obstruct the performance of police statutory duties of verifying vehicle particulars or contest its power under the law to conduct search when there is reasonable ground to suspect that a crime has been committed by any motorist.
It is a common knowledge that Nigerian roadblocks lead to anger and despair. A times officers on such special duties were usually drunk and at every slightest provocation threatened the road users with gun.
Instead of protecting lives of the citizens in the highways, the major pre-occupation of most officers on the special check points is to intimidate and coerce from the light purse of the road users. It is an incontrovertible fact that instances when the drivers’ vehicle documents are complete, police officers on the roadblocks are fond of insisting on collection of gratification for the routine check using flimsy excuses or may apply subtle approach where there is resistance depending on their assessment of personality of their preys.
It will be recalled that when Mr. M.D Abubakar, the erstwhile Inspector General of police came on board few years ago, one remarkable bold step he took was to abolish and dismantle roadblocks. Many cynics that thought the abolition of roadblocks will provide the highway robbers the opportunity to operate freely were eventually proved wrong. The alternative measure put in place then was to encourage highway patrol and from evaluation the strategy was plausible.
Given the applause that was globally received by the former Inspector General of police, Mr. M.D Abubakar, for ensuring free passage of citizens on the highways without police harassments, this is expected to serve as a lesson to Suleiman Abba, the recently confirmed Inspector General of Police by the National Council of State. Without change in the police mentality, the quest for enhanced professionalism among ranks and files of the police will remain an illusion for long. It is also disheartening that the Nigerian Police do not command due respect partly due to corrupt practices currently prevalent among the officers or other misdemeanours that daily characterized the activities of police men across the country.
As a person who regularly plies the Nigerian roads, have severally fell victims and have experienced notoriety of the wildly looking police men in instances they were operating as special task force on vehicle inspection. In those circumstances, the officers on the check points are guilty of treating the motorists with contempt even though their Salaries are paid from the same tax payers money some of whom they do intimidate. The new Inspector General of Police needs to urgently stop the messy practice of the police officers on the highways as part of the efforts to redeem the image of the police. Without this bold step, Suleiman Abba as Inspector General of police would be remembered by the verdict of history as a villain.
Part of the inherent danger of roadblocks is that officers on such stationary duties are prone to targeted attacks from people of underworld who ply the roads on daily basis on revenge mission or as pre-emptive action. Even with the risks involved, it is reliably gathered that young officers do lobby for posting to highways on special duties.
One other important area of concern is the role of the police in the electoral process as the nation approaches 2015 general elections. Essentially, police owes the nation the responsibility of supporting the Electoral umpire to successfully conduct credible elections in the country. And it will be a great disservice to the nation, if Suleiman Abba should fail to achieve the feat by any form of wrongful deployment of officers for electoral assignments come 2015.
Interestingly, Abba’s confirmation came at the heels of condemnation that trailed his withdrawal of the security details of the speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal. Whatever the source of the directive on the withdrawal, Mr Suleiman Abba must strive hard to change negative impression the incidence has created about his personality and the image of the police. However, I Congratulate Mr Suleiman Abba, on confirmation of his appointment as the Inspector General of police. Wishing him greater challenges ahead.

By
Rahaman Onike
Academic Planning Unit,
Oyo State College of Agriculture,
Igboora.
(07033902827)

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