Jonathan and Nigerians. In a saner society, Hafiz Ringim would not have waited for President Goodluck Jonathan to put him out of office before throwing in the towel. The former Inspector General of Police simply failed in his assigned responsibilities and his tenure had done more damage to the image of the Nigerian Police than that of any of his predecessor. More than any other organisations, the Nigeria Police is responsible for the level of insecurity in Nigeria because its officers and men have not been able to fight crimes adequately and of course check the menace of the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram. Even before the embarrassing escape of Kabiru Sokoto, the alleged kingpin of the Christmas day bombing in Madalla, Niger State, the Police under the watch of Ringim had virtually gone to sleep with the radical Islamic sect turning most parts of the country to another Afghanistan. Hundreds of Nigerians were slaughtered while some parts of the country became a no go area. For Sir Mike Okiro, a former Inspector General of Police, Nigerians, and I believe the president too; have lost confidence in the police long before the escape of Sokoto. Under the watch of Ringim, the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force was bombed and the Boko Haram militants repeatedly took out police stations, killing officers and other civilians with reckless abandon. The arrest of Sokoto was seen as a major breakthrough that could have unlocked the riddle of the sect and undercut its violent operations. The former IG and his men simply let down the president and Nigerians by bungling the arrest. To allow such a high profile suspect to escape smacked not only of incompetence but also complicity. Certain officers simply betrayed their countrymen and sold their conscience. We should not ignore the submission of Sir Mike Okiro that Nigerians have lost confidence in the Nigerian Police. Mike Okiro said it was unbelievable that Sokoto who was said to be in leg and hand chains could escape in the company of 10 policemen. He also hit the nail on the head when he opined that if the police could not protect themselves going by the bombing of their headquarters in Abuja and Kano how they would protect other Nigerians. I am sure that Mike Okiro was surprised by the relative ease with which the Boko Haram sect members bombed the headquarters of the Police in Abuja and Kano which Ringim and his men had no answer to. I totally disagree with everyone who blames the president for the inefficiency on the part of the Nigerian police. It is a too simplistic approach. Agreed, the bucks stops at the Presidents table. But after providing the requisite requirements and logistics through the instrumentality of his office, it now behooves on the officers and men of the force to deliver on their mandate. I can imagine the pain of Mr. President whenever news of another strike by Boko Haram gets to him and his disappointment about the inability of the Police to nip such a dastardly act in the bud. And now that the President has delivered by giving the police a new lease of life through the appointment of Mohammed Abubakar who is said to be up to the job, Nigerians cannot wait for positive visible and verifiable changes in the security of the country. Abubakar and his men must rise up to the occasion. Abubakar must make the Okiro three point agenda his guiding principle. According to Sir Okiro, and I agree totally with him , the new IG must work to contain the increasing wave of terrorism especially the onslaught of Boko Haram, check crimes and boost the morale of officers and men of the force so that they will be able to face the tasks ahead squarely. This is the only way to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the force. However the Sokoto saga must not be swept under the carpet. The President must demand a thorough investigation of the circumstances of the escape and all officers remotely connected with the embarrassing episode must be sanctioned adequately. More than that, the new IG can only earn the respect and confidence of Mr. President and other Nigerians if and when Sokoto and all those who are responsible for the dastardly Christmas day bombing and other acts of terrorism against their father land are brought to justice.Ogbuagwu wrote in from Awka, Anambra State.
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