Nigerian junior police officers hail DDM for expose, say they started receiving promotion salaries, allowances, others

Some junior officers Nigeria Police Force has lauded the recent report by Diaspora Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) exposing the rot, insensitivity, corruption and high-handedness of the Force before and during the leadership of the new Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun.

Some officers had raised alarm over perceived unfavourable policies under IGP Egbetokun’s leadership.

Some of the officers interviewed by DDM, but spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid victimisation, raised some serious concerns including indiscriminate transfers, unrealistic demands, unpaid allowances, fraudulent contributing pensions, and even corruption among the police hierarchy.

DDM followed up with another publication wherein some officers began mass resignation, while others threatened street protests if the unfavourable policies are not repealed.

Following the DDM report, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Abuja, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a press release dated 31st January, 2024, and entitled “Force reorganization vital for effective, professional, accountable policing“, tried to deny the daunting allegations.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi

In the statement wherein he “cleared air” on the delayed Federal Government palliatives, he fruitlessly strove to berate the publication on mass resignation as “false”.

Adejobi stated in part:

“In response to recent allegations concerning the activities of the Nigeria Police Force, it is important to provide a comprehensive perspective addressing the concerns raised.

“The Force reorganization, which involves the transfer of officers who have served for a long period of time in a particular state, is a crucial aspect of maintaining effectiveness, professionalism and curbing undue overfamiliarity and familiarity that may hamper quality service delivery.

“Currently Edo, Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and other states have been earmarked for this first phase of reorganization to enhance efficiency and accountability, and this exercise is a tradition and sacrosanct.”

On the delayed Federal Government palliatives, he said: “This delay is a procedural matter and not indicative of any neglect or malintent as the Force is committed to ensuring that officers receive their due promotions and corresponding arrears in a timely manner.”

He ‘clarified’ that those affected are only those promoted within the year 2023, whose promotion entitlements were not catered for in the already approved 2023 fiscal policy.

While attacking the DDM exclusive report, he said: “The recent publication appears to be mischievous and possibly sponsored, as the author did not take the time to understand the intricacies of the public service.”

Adejobi failed to tell his audience, however, that DDM contacted him prior to the publication but he failed to respond.

See the screenshot below:

Police officers react

In the meantime, some of the junior police officers, who spoke to DDM anonymously, lauded the impact of the DDM report and acknowledged that they have started receiving their promotion salaries, basic allowances, as well as other remunerations due to them.

One of the officers lambasted the Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Adejobi, saying he is ‘merely defending his paymasters’ while defending the indefensible.

He said: “In response to the police image maker, he is not affected which is why he said all sorts of nonsense.

“It is actually true that transfer is a normal thing in the force but that is when it is not instigated or without interference by a person or group of persons.”

“We have called on the federal government, the Senate and national house of representative to intervene in this satanic transfer instigated by the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

“Obaseki confirmed last week that he gave order to the IGP to redeploy 4,000 police men to Edo State and Police PPRO the IGP image maker said it not true.

“Even if you really want do transfer, must it be January, just to frustrate the lives of people?

“You transfer husband and wife, who do you then want to leave their children for because of police work?

“I think the federal government, the Senate and House of Representatives have paid a deaf ear to the cries of security agents who cry out to then for help.”

Another officer said: “I weep for Nigeria. The great Awolowo once said he foresaw darkness over shadow of democracy in the future in Nigeria.

“Today we see Nigeria Medical Association of Nigeria cried out but the Nigerian government looked down on them.

“Consultants are leaving the country and policemen are crying over the ill treatment of their superior, the government pay deaf ear.

“Most policemen have done there passport between May last year and now while over two thousand police men will leave the country.

“We have not seen anthing yet! I weep for my country.

“It’s better to be a farmer in South Africa than to be a police man in nigeria.

“It’s better to be a house help in Canada than to be a police man in Nigeria.

“By March this year we will spread links to travel out of the country to every police through WhatsApp.

“I cry for this country, Nigeria.

“A time shall come when the politicians will not be able to move in the streets of this nation as they never take security seriously.

“The IGP image maker will explain tire. The problem of this country is in this country.

“The problem of this country is tribalism. Tribalism and religion are  the causes of  corruption in Nigeria today.

“Not until we address the two issues Nigeria, we remain were it is.

“People are dying in this country every day and the government is not doing anything about it.”

DDM will publish more updates as they unfold.

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