I will like to commend the A.g Inspector General of Police for giving life to the dormant provision of the Police Act. section 50 (1)a, b and c of the Police Act CAP P14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 which States as follows :
‘’ Appointment of special constables in normal circumstances (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the competent authority may appoint as a special constable any person (whether male or female) who- (a) has attained the age of21 years but has not attained the age of fifty years; and (b) is of good character and physically fit; and (c) has signified his willingness to serve as a special constable’’.
The activation of the above provisions becomes necessary in my view due to the fact that we are under policed, in most parts of Nigeria the moment you leave the Local Government Headquarters you hardly see the presence of Police officers thus the rising cases of killings, kidnappings and other criminal activities in the hitherto peaceful rural areas. Furthermore the persons to be appointed as constables should be nominated by the community in consultation with the traditional Institutions which is the only authority that people see and believe in outside the Local Government Headquarters with a view to increasing community policing. I make bold to say that doing so will give the people more security as the constables will be trained and armed, community policing and will deter the armed bandits from attacking the rural areas ,it will also go a long way in assisting the Police intelligence gathering mechanisms and most importantly promoting community policing.
It is, therefore my fervent hope that the IGP WILL hasten the activation of section 50 (1)of the Police Act to save the lives of Nigerians especially in the rural areas which is so under policed. I will also urge the IGP to set out clear cut parameters for the recruitment i.e NYSC discharge certificate, consultation with the community because we must ensure that credible Nigerians are given the task.
The Challenge is all ours.
Shamsudeen Abdulrahman Yammama can be reached on s[email protected]