Former Police Commissioner Calls For Monthly Recruitment To Tackle Insecurity, ‘Kidnapping Of Security Men Embarrassing’

Former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Tsav has called for monthly recruitment of police officers into the force in other to tackle the menace of kidnappings in the country.

Tsav said the issue of the rampant cases of abductions is a dangerous threat to peace and security of the country.

He made the call in an exclusive interview with THE WHISTLER against the backdrop of the recent reported cases of kidnappings involving security personnel.

He said: “They should make recruitment a monthly ritual. Every month there should be recruitment so that we flood the country with policemen. And when we flood the country with policemen, we use them as plain cloth policemen as undercover to go into the bushes and try to find out about these kidnappers. Try to pretend that plain cloth policemen are part of the kidnappers so that they will know more about them, give information about them and get them arrested. That was the norm during the colonial era.

“The issue of these kidnappings is a dangerous threat to peace and order in the country, and I think steps should be taken to clear this thing once and for all. You see, there was this plan to recruit more policemen. Suddenly there was this conflict between the police service commission and the police hierarchy, so it was delayed. There should not be any delay.

 “Government should try and give the police equipments, encourage them, embolden them with sufficient equipment and allowances, so when they go out, they don’t care, they will protect very well.

He described the kidnap of security personnel as very embarrassing.

“It is really really embarrassing. Security officers are trained to protect themselves first before protecting members of the public. How they became so loose as to allow themselves to be kidnapped is very surprising.

“But one other thing again is that recent events in the country where security officers were said to have been caught selling arms and ammunitions to kidnappers. There are also all sorts of allegations that some uniform men too share these ransoms with kidnappers. So they become very familiar. And when you become very familiar with these kidnappers, you show them your weak points, and then they can attack you. But when you’re not familiar with them, you do not show them your weak points, they’re always afraid to come near you, so I think it may be over familiarity and this ‘man near man’ stuff may be what must have broken the jinx to make kidnappers now running after security officers. It’s very sad and embarrassing.

“And when you start to talk too much about your movements, they hear and they waylay you. Your movements and everything about you should be in secret. Nobody should know. But when you publicise your movements, you become a very easy prey.”

On the recent call by the senate that security personnel should be banned from using train transport on the Abuja-Kaduna highway instead of road in view of the kidnappings on the route, Tsav said:

“If security officials use the train just because they want to avoid attack by kidnappers, they will be creating fears in the minds of the members of the public. They should protect members of the public. They should not become threatened themselves. So the call for the ban is right, they should use the road. They should learn to protect themselves and members of the public.

“The call will energise them to sit up, because if you’re going on that road, you’ll be thinking that if you don’t take time, you’ll be kidnapped, so you’ll be careful. That is why in some cases, some policemen don’t put on uniform when they’re travelling, and this is an act of cowardice. If you are on official duty you’re supposed to be on uniform. Sometimes when they’re going on their beats, they hide their uniforms in polythene bags until they get to their duty posts before they wear their uniforms. That again is wrong.”

Recall that on October 7, 2019, at least nine persons including a 12 year old boy and an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were kidnapped in Pegi community in Kuje Area Council of the FCT.

Also on October 16, the police in Edo State had confirmed the death of a police sergeant, Yusuf Igoche following an attack by gunmen in the state.

Gunmen had also on October 19 kidnapped an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Musa Rabo. He was however rescued the next day.

In April this year, the Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) board, Muhammed Mahmood was kidnapped alongside his daughter along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway. They were kidnapped by unknown gunmen who reportedly ambushed their vehicle.

Apart from these kidnap cases of security officers, several other civilians have been reportedly kidnapped across the country.

The FCT police command had also in September debunked reports of rampant kidnappings and assured residents of their safety at all times.