Reps to summon IGP, others over activities of officers in mufti at checkpoints

House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to summon the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, over the activities of un-uniformed officers operating at various checkpoints across the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones of the country.

The resolution was passed in sequel to the adoption of a motion on a matter of urgent public importance on the need to address the unprecedented rate of un-uniformed security personnel at checkpoints in the South East and the South South regions of the country, posing national security risks and undermining public trust and officer accountability,” sponsored by Hon. Ibe Osonwa.

In his lead debate, Hon. Osonwa observed that the Nigerian Police Act 2020 and related operational guidelines emphasised the necessity of officers’ identification and proper uniform adherence for accountability, transparency, and the protection of citizens’ rights.

“The House is also aware that the current security challenges facing the southeast and the south side geopolitical zones, particularly the activities of the unknown gunmen and other security and criminal elements, are rife.

“The House is worried that increasing trend of Police Officers of the NPF, highway patrol officers, as well as the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel manning our checkpoints and conducting stop and searches around the country are done in plain clothes, jeans, or incomplete uniforms without visible name tags, ranks, and thereby violating the established force, order, and security protocols.

“The House has observed that this gross lack of proper identification at checkpoints creates a dangerous climate of ambiguity, making it virtually impossible for citizens to distinguish between genuine security personnel and criminal impersonators, thus constituting a severe risk to national security and public safety.

“The House also observes that the alarming rate of personnel extortion reports and harassment of abuse of power at these checkpoints, which are at a significantly exuberant amount by our officers in plain clothes, is making it difficult to track and discipline these officers who are errant and extremely dangerous and fuel continued criminal impunity.

“The House is mindful that this matter assumes great security urgency during the seasonal periods which we are now approaching, where high volumes of families and citizens travel to and from the South-East and the South-South regions, directly increasing public interaction with security checkpoints and heightening the risk of harassment, extortion, and security threats from the impersonators.

“The House is worried that the inability to establish a clear identity and being able to hold officers accountable for damage to the reputation of security agencies, and this in turn erodes the already fragile relationship between security forces and the Citizens that they are mandated to protect.

“The House resolves to mandate the Inspector General of Police and the Commander General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to immediately enforce strict compliance with extant rules, requiring all officers on checkpoints, stop and searches, and patrol to appear in full approved uniform with clear visible ranks, names, force, and identification tags.”

To this end, the lawmakers mandated the joint Committees on Police Affairs and Interior to summon the IGP and the Commander General of the NSCDC and relevant agencies to ascertain the reasons for the non-compliance and secure a definitive timeline for the full implementation of the Uniform Enforcement Directive, with an oversight visit to the affected regions to monitor compliance with this resolution, and report back to the House in six weeks.

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