The Nigeria Police Force is embarking on a recruitment drive, and in a bid to improve the quality of its personnel, it is appealing to the citizens to recommend “responsible” individuals for the force, while steering clear of those with questionable records that may be contributing to the concerns of police brutality across the nation.
The announcement of the recruitment process for police constables in the General Duty and Specialist Cadres was made by Force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a statement released on Friday. The application portal is set to be open for six weeks, starting from October 15 to November 26.
In response to inquiries from concerned Nigerians, police spokespersons in different states have echoed the call for the recruitment of only “the best individuals” for the police force. Assistant Superintendent of Police Mahid Muazu in Gombe State urged residents to send forward only the finest candidates, emphasizing the need to filter out those who may be responsible for terrorizing communities. He reassured the public that the police force is actively working to cleanse its ranks, stating, “Yes, we are recruiting, but we are begging you to send us the best of your candidates to apply, not the bad types terrorizing your communities; we are already putting in combined efforts to sanitize the system.”
Similarly, Bright Edafe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police in Delta State, echoed this sentiment by urging those interested in joining the police force to be responsible individuals. He encouraged eligible candidates to apply through the official website.
These calls for responsible candidates come amidst growing concerns about police brutality in Nigeria, with law enforcement agencies acknowledging that a few “bad eggs” within their ranks have been responsible for the incidents. The force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, emphasized the seriousness of this issue by stating that any armed police operative involved in extortion is akin to an armed robber.
This call for responsible recruitment is a response to a longstanding issue in Nigeria, where despite the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Unit (SARS) following nationwide protests against police brutality in October 2020, incidents of police misconduct and brutality continue to occur. These include instances of police officers using excessive force, assault, kidnapping, and extortion.
The police force’s determination to rectify the situation is reflected in their recruitment drive, where they seek to ensure that only individuals with a commitment to upholding the law and protecting communities are selected to serve in the force. This effort represents a step towards rebuilding trust between the police and the Nigerian populace.
