From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in Charge of Zone 16, comprising Bayelsa and Rivers States, AIG Paul Odama, has averred that corruption thrives in Nigeria because the police are not doing their job as it should.

The AIG said the police, with the mandate to arrest, apprehend, detain and prosecute has the powers to fight corruption but however said the police force must first cleanse itself from corruption before fighting corruption.

Odama, who made the remarks at the Police Headquarters in Yenagoa, yesterday while addressing the rank and file of the command, warned against corruption, adding that the police management team has zero tolerance for corruption.

While commending the officers and men of the command for a successful outing during the last concluded governorship elections, he warned the officers and men against drunkenness on duty and indiscipline, adding that to be disciplined is the epitome of the police force.

The AIG who was flanked by the State Commissioner of Police (CP) Alonyenu Idu, said: “If the police are doing their job, there will be no bribery and corruption in Nigeria because that is our mandate, we have the right to arrest, apprehend, detain and prosecute.

“So if the police are doing their job there will be no problem of corruption in Nigeria and before we can arrest anyone who is corrupt we must also have to clean ourselves, because he who goes to equity must go with clean hands.We must be mindful of that, I know your CP and DPO has been speaking to you on it and the Force management team has zero tolerance for corruption.

“Some police officers go and get themselves drunk while on duty, remember the social media is there and by the time your CP and IGP sees you on social media drunk, of course you know what to do, just park your things and go.

“You are drunk and you are on patrol and you have your gun with you. Don’t forget Section 237 as amended when you use your firearms. You are drunk and you forget that Section, so ensure that you are not drunk because that will prevent you from accidental discharge. While you are on duty you are not expected to drink.

“Discipline is the bedrock of the Force, I know every CP, Area Commander, AIG, and IG that comes for lectures must always talk about discipline because without discipline there is no Nigeria Police Force . That is why the police are formed hierarchically.

“I don’t want a situation where a DSP will insult an SP, and discipline will have to start in your home. Discipline includes the way you dress, talk, even the way you drive your vehicles because some of the police officers even drive against the traffic. If you drive against traffic, that means you are indisciplined, so you have to check yourself. Discipline and indiscipline involves your entire life. As a police officer, you are expected to be the epitome of discipline.”

In his welcome address, the Commissioner of Police Bayelsa state command, Alonyonenu Idu, appealed to the Inspector General of Police to approve the construction of a befitting Secretariat as the command Headquarters in the state.

The state police Boss said, the approval and construction of Police Headquarters would be a force multiplier for the men’s performance as a police unit in-charge  of internal security in the economic corridor as important as Bayelsa state.

The police commissioner stated this when he played host to the Assistant Inspector General of Police ( AIG) Zone 16 covering Bayelsa and Rivers State.

According to him, Bayelsa State command is still squatting in a deformed and derelict Party Secretariat. Saying it has constraints on the smooth administrative running and operational deployment of the officers.

“Essential law enforcement assets cannot be installed to properly manage the men and Policemen are not properly dispatched to flash points when needed”.

“The command and control room is derelict as the size of the appropriate law enforcement infrastructures cannot fit in. This has affected real law enforcement agents as essential maps of the city cannot be formatted and spread on the control Board for pointing towards citizens in distress. No proper storage for law enforcement equipments”.

” We implore the Inspector General of Police to ameliorate our situation to graciously include the Bayelsa police command in his commitment and benevolence to approve a structure that would house the state police command Headquarters”.

He commended the men of the command in maintaining law and order in the state especially during the last gubernatorial election. “The level and social harmony of peace witnessed during and after the gubernatorial election is a testimony to the patriotic zeal and disposition invested by the men  to ensure law and order governance throughout that period”.

He appealed to the IGP for prompt payment of officers salaries and emoluments to motivate the officers.