Among the factors that drive general and official corruption including poverty and natural resource, the most devastating is poor institutions of which the police system, as the pillar and enforcer of law and order, counts as the most harmful. Those charged with police oversight, discipline, and reform have for years failed to take effective action, thereby reinforcing impunity for police officers of all ranks who regularly perpetrate crimes against the citizens they are mandated to protect and once the police institution is corrupted, the system of law and order collapses.
During DoroCorruption radio program in Wazobia FM Abuja, CSP Aremu Adeniran, Deputy force Public Relations Officer directed citizens who are threatened with arrest and physical harm for refusal to give bribes at check points, to report to the provost marshal, the Police Complaint Response Unit (PCRU), area commander, the PROs, the deputy commissioner, the commissioner or the zonal AIG until justice is served and action is taken against culpable officers, instead of reporting to the junior police officers.
Replying to the allegation of extortion during Nigerian police recruitment, he said that the police service commission who is responsible for recruitment make it public for citizens to apply for vacancies at no cost, hence citizens should report any officer who tries to collect money from them with the promise of employment into the Nigerian police force.
He added that application for recruitment into the force is made and submitted online through their website that will be made available to applicants whenever they want to commence their recruitment process and those that are shortlisted will be communicated through their phone numbers or the email addresses they provided.
He exhorted listeners to play their roles as good and responsible citizens by renewing all their vehicle papers whenever it expires and make sure their vehicles are road worthy, to avoid harassment from road officials, though it shouldn’t give the police officers opportunity to demand money from any motorist.
