The police force must work hard to regain the trust and confidence of the public by stamping out the excesses, abuses, and culture of impunity exhibited by some elements within the police according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.Prof Osinbajo stated this on Wednesday at the decoration ceremony of the new Acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Akali Baba, at the State House in Abuja.
The Vice President emphasized that under the leadership of the new Acting Inspector General, “the police must now rebuild the broken bridges of trust with the public and regain the confidence of the citizenry.”Continuing, Prof Osinbajo reiterated the need for community policing as a way of also securing the lives of Nigerians and called for “implementing the community policing policy and reconceptualizing policing as a task carried out in partnership with local communities and by officers who are members of these localities.”
He noted that the welfare and working conditions of police officers must improve significantly and under the leadership of the Acting IG, officers “must live up to all of the highest standards of professional conduct and compliance to the rule of law.
“You must stamp out the excesses, abuses, and the culture of impunity illustrated by some elements of the force which provoke public outrage against the institution.”
The Vice President admitted that the Acting IG assumes his office at “a very turbulent time in the life of our country,” noting “multiple threats to law, order and public safety.” He stated further that, “the role of law enforcement and in particular that of the Nigeria Police Force as the primary agency charged with maintaining law and order, has never been more important.”
Also present at the decoration ceremony were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, the former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and other top government officials.
