By Zayd Ibn Isah
Recently, I learned of the timely intervention of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in Solomon Bawaʼs distressing encounter with some policemen in Nasarawa State. My awareness of this incident came from the well-known human rights media platform, Berekete Family, which is led by its CEO, Ordinary Ahmed Isah, a.k.a Ordinary President. The IGP’s swift intervention came immediately after Solomon Bawa granted an interview with the Berekete Family, where he accused the policemen of wrongful arrest and degrading treatment.
According to Bawa, in 2019, while on his way to repair the tires of his pickup van, he was arrested by a team of policemen who identified him as Bawa Gambo. He said his pleas of innocence, that he was not Bawa Gambo, fell on deaf ears. Not only did the police officers dehumanize him, but also forced him to admit that he is Bawa Gambo. After this terrible ordeal, he was later transferred to the State CID, where he was charged to court and endured years in prison until the intervention of a human rights lawyer, Barrister C.Y. Masha.
Solomon Bawa’s sad story left me to ponder upon how people could be so cruel to their fellow human beings. And the fact that these individuals are obviously paid with taxpayersʼ money to protect lives and property, including the basic rights of ordinary, law-abiding citizens such as Solomon Bawa, makes this particular case even more saddening.
Meanwhile, in discussing the policeʼs efforts to hold the rogue officers accountable, Bawa recounted a one-on-one meeting he had with the IGP. He revealed that in the meeting, the IGP assured him of justice and even went further to provide financial support, as a way to ease Bawaʼs suffering. This compassionate act surprised Bawa at the time, and its revelation astounded the Ordinary President himself, as well as other listeners in the studio.
This collective surprise is understandable, seeing as it is a consequence of the single story that has unfairly defined the entire Nigeria Police Force as an establishment of greedy, selfish and corrupt officers. Anyone who has ever been a victim of unfair stereotyping knows the danger of a single story, and understands that such a story acts in opposition to the truth and reality of life. As I often tell those who care to listen, there are good police officers in Nigeria; and just as there are good Nigerians, there are good Nigerian police officers. This is because ultimately, the law enforcement arm of any country is a reflective product of its society.
Beyond Solomonʼs story, there was also an account of how SDP supporters from Kogi State accused the police of complicity in an attack that occurred during the recent gubernatorial election. They also commended the IGP for his swift response, and for his assurances that officers implicated in the attack would face appropriate punishment if found guilty.
Those who have known IGP Kayode Egbetokun way before his rise to the top, would not be surprised by accounts of his compassionate actions toward Solomon Bawa and others. To such people who have closely followed his careerʼs trajectory, the IGP is first and foremost a man of remarkable compassion, a sterling quality that runs alongside his reputation as a disciplinarian par excellence.
During his tenure as Kwara Stateʼs Commissioner of Police, the IGP reportedly directed Divisional Police Officers to prioritize the safety of lives and property over returns, and to also shun all forms of bribery and corruption. And he did not only give the instruction, but made sure that it was followed to the letter, as officers who failed to comply were duly punished.
On a more personal note, I can never forget a particularly memorable encounter I had with him during my book presentation/launching in Kwara State. Prior to this event, I was advised to approach him for support because he famously loves reading books. But alas, as at the time I met him, he was already on his way out of office as Kwara Stateʼs Commissioner of Police. As such, he felt quite bad that I came at a time he was already on transfer out of the Command. Nevertheless, he made sure to leave a note behind for his successor to support my literary endeavours. And the rest, as is often said, is history.
The importance of human compassion in policing is evident, as exemplified by the calibre of leaders like former Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, Chief Carmen Best of the Seattle Police Department, and former Dallas Police Chief, David Brown. The compassionate approaches of these men to policing, emphasized building trust and fostering positive communication relations as the surest method to enhance the connections between law enforcement agencies and the communities which they serve.
In conclusion, addressing the issue of cleansing the Nigeria Police Force of its bad elements should be a collective responsibility. After all, the integrity of law enforcement body can either hasten or prevent the threat of anarchy within a society. As such, initiatives could begin by recruiting individuals with the highest degree of intelligence and other capabilities into the system as my boss, the Chairman, Police Service Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase said.
Policing, anywhere in the world, is challenging especially when it is meant to safeguard law and order within a complex society like ours, necessitating the placement of round pegs in round holes. It is in this vein that we need now more than ever, the proliferation of stellar officers in the mould of the present Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Zayd Ibn Isah can be reached at lawcadet1@gmail.com
