Former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, officially handed over leadership to Kayode Egbetokun amidst a cloud of controversy at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja on a Wednesday.
In his farewell speech, Baba claimed to have left the Nigeria Police Force in a better state than he found it, boasting about the value he added to policing in Nigeria. He expressed his conviction that steady progress had been made in changing the narratives of policing and restoring police primacy within the internal security structure of the country.
Baba said, “As I exit the leadership of the Force today, I believe that I am leaving it better than I met it. I believe that I have added value to policing in Nigeria. I hold the firm conviction that steady progress has been made in all the components of my promise to change policing narratives and in our journey to restore the dwindling police primacy within the internal security architecture of the country.
While giving credit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Baba highlighted the administration’s efforts to transform the policing narrative by setting out a vision and mission objectives. He pledged to address welfare concerns, enhance operational capacity, reposition special detachments, upgrade technical intelligence assets, and modernize police stations and barracks.
However, one must question the realization of these proposed visions. Are the various police stations in the country truly befitting? The dilapidated infrastructure and deplorable conditions in many police stations, particularly in rural areas, paint a different picture. Additionally, the state of rehabilitation centres, is epitomized by the word “kirikiri” which instils fear due to the sordid tales surrounding our prison system. In modernized countries, prisons are seen as centers for reforming criminals, not as places to treat them like animals.
Usman Baba’s tenure was plagued with controversies, notably the issue of police brutality that sparked the “End SARS” protests. Bribery and corruption among police officers escalated, and inappropriate use of arms by officers, exemplified by the Bola Raheem case where a lawyer was shot unprovoked in Lagos, further tarnished the force’s reputation.
While acknowledging some positive aspects of Baba’s tenure, it is undeniable that the Nigerian police system is riddled with deep-seated issues. The burden now falls on Kayode Egbetokun to undertake extensive reforms if the police force in Nigeria is to regain its lost credibility.
What is your assessment of Usman Baba’s performance?
