By Toye Olori
LAGOS, Aug 22 2003 (IPS)

The dismissal of 34 police officers in Lagos at the weekend shows the seriousness of the new inspector general of police, Tafa Balogun in fighting corruption and redeeming the image of the force, say observers.

The officers, dismissed for extorting money from motorists, were paraded before the media before being expelled on Aug. 17.

They were alleged to have collected 20 Naira (20 U.S. cents) from each commercial vehicle operator at various road blocks in Lagos. More than 18,000 Naira (180 U.S. dollars), mostly in crumpled 20 Naira notes, were found on them.

Young Arebamen, Lagos State Police Commissioner, who paraded the disgraced policemen, warned that time was up for corrupt officers.

”Woe betide any policeman caught collecting 20 Naira (20 U.S. cents) from today. Police officers, like the 34, who have been dismissed, will also be charged for robbery. It is now ‘Operation Go Home’ for every cop caught collecting 20 Naira from the public,” Arebamen told more than 15,000 police officers who were summoned to witness the dismissal of their colleagues. The parading of the 34 policemen before journalists did not, however, go down well with some junior officers. They described the punishment as too harsh. They said the dismissed officers would join the teaming unemployment market or turn into armed robbers. To them, the policemen were nothing but scapegoats as the spoils were being enjoyed by some senior officers.

Nigerian police are poorly paid. For a salary of just 9,000 Naira (90 U.S. dollars), they are expected to protect the lives and property of people, who spend the equivalent of their salary, or more, on just one evening meal.

The highest officer arrested, so far, is the head of an anti-riot police unit in Lagos. He has been replaced after being accused by his men of forcing them to extort money from motorists at road blocks.

Nigeria’s influential Guardian newspaper quoted seven policemen as alleging that their boss forced them to give him 5,000 Naira (50 U.S. dollars) as returns from check points everyday.

That he also collected 1,300 Naira (13 U.S. dollars) from each of them out of the 2,000 Naira (20 U.S. dollars) allowance approved them for guarding commercial banks. Based on those allegations, inspector general, Balogun directed a team of officers to probe the accused officer who is now said to be in detention in the capital, Abuja.

”I think the new measure will help stamp out the nuisance caused by policemen who have turned road blocks into money spinners,” Johnson Idahosa, a social commentator in Lagos, told IPS.

Some 33 corrupt police officers have also been arrested across Nigeria since last week.

”If found guilty, the men will be dismissed from the force," said Samuel Dahunsi, a deputy commissioner of police in Delta State, southeast Nigeria.

Ordinary Nigerians, who have been victims of police brutality and extortion at check points, have welcomed the parading of the officers.

”Since they carry guns and force innocent motorists to part with their money, they are not different from armed robbers on the highways. After all, policemen have shot and killed bus conductors for refusing to pay bribe. What is the difference between such policemen and armed robbers?” wonders Jane Ejiofor, a banker in Lagos.

Rauf Bamidele, a 17-year-old mini-bus conductor, told IPS: ”I was very happy when I saw the policemen on television on Sunday. I also like what the inspector general said about trying the dismissed policemen for robbery. I was particularly happy when he said that we should not give money to corrupt policemen anymore. I pray that the order would be enforced. Last year they announced the same regulation but the police continue to harass us for 20 Naira (20 U.S. cents) every day. If we don’t give them, they delay us at check points or beat us”.

Following his appointment last year, Balogun set himself an eight-point agenda to reform the police force – which is estimated to be over 200,000 men and women – and tackle insecurity in the country. Among the eight-point agenda were reduction of crime to the barest minimum and wiping out of corruption in the police force.

Last year, when launching his anti-corruption operation, codenamed ”Ghost Squad”, Balogun regretted that the image of the police force had degenerated to the level that it had lost public respect both at home and abroad.

There are fears that if sacked policemen join armed robbery it would be a nightmare for Nigeria.

Police statistics show that 270 cases of armed robbery took place in Lagos between 2001 and 2002. During that period, 701 armed robbers were arrested and 544 others were killed by security forces during exchanges of fire between them and law enforcement officers in Lagos alone.

Sixty-nine soldiers and 104 civilians also lost their lives.

During the same period, police recovered 7,907 guns and ammunitions, and 3,106 vehicles out of the 4,451 stolen in Lagos.

Since January, 58 armed robbers have been shot dead in Lagos. In return, three police officers and six civilians have been gunned down by armed robbers.

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