STILL ON IGP ORDER: A RETIRED OFFICER'S VIEW
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"The Force Order 237 of NPF,  which specially deals with rules of engagement on use of firearms was distilled from Chapter 1V of the 1999 constitution as amended. This chapter highlights fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens, including right to life and spells out conditions upon which the life a citizen can be terminated.

    All past IGPs have always emphasized on the aforementioned Force Order in relation to fundamental rights,  especially right to life. Any deviation from the conditions stated by this Chapter of our Nigerian Constitution and amplified by Force Order 237 will  tantamount to extra-judicial killing for which extant laws provide adquate punishment, after prosecution and pronouncement by a court of competent jurisdiction.

  It was a good move by the IGP to have visited the South East and South South geopolitical zones to boost the morale of personnel of NPF which is at its lowest ebb but kinetic approach alone can not solve the current crisis in these  two geopolitical zones. A carrot and stick approach would serve better . This is because some  of these so called IPOB young men are illiterates and semi- illiterates who are uninformed / ill-informed. Perhaps, due to  the youth bulge in our population demography,   poverty, hunger, unemployment, bad governance issues, wrong political leadership recruitment process , etc their idle minds easily turn into the proverbial devil's workshop.

     While I vehemently condemn the spate of attacks on police officers and stations, I strongly recommend better fortification of Police Stations, installation of CCTV cameras, increase in manpower via massive recruitment, increased use artificial intelligence , quantum increase in life  insurance cover and better  welfare considerations for serving personnel.

   One of the low hanging fruits is to immediately make available to all Police formations adequate quantities of tear gas . When expelled in strategic positions and quantity, it has capacity to disorient the  invaders of Police Stations/ assets regardless of their firepower . This basic fighting tool is lacking in most Police departments and formations.

     Finally, there's the urgent need for a review of how and where Police Stations and barracks are sited and built. For decades now, Police barracks remain eyesores, a study in dilapidation, making Police personnel the butt of all jokes. We can do better as a nation.

  The scars of the ENDSARs wounds are yet to heal and all hands must be on deck to ensure that lessons learnt are useful to all ..., government at all levels,  policemen and citizens alike . I believe that serving Police officers and men will continuously apply professionalism and wisdom acquired over the years , from Police Colleges during training upon recruitment till date, in their use of firearms while on duty.