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IG scraps Operation Fire for Fire
Tobi Soniyi and Oluyinka Akintunde, Abuja
The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, on Tuesday dumped the Operation Fire for Fire programme of his predecessor, Mr. Tafa Balogun. He is adopting a new programme with a guiding philosophy of policing with integrity.
Rolling out a 10-point programme at a maiden conference of senior police officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Ehindero said: “Operation Fire for Fire has achieved its purpose by and large. However, in its stead will be to serve and protect with integrity.”
According to him, Operation Fire for Fire will be fine-tuned to make it effective, accountable and responsive.
He said,“I put before you our 10-point programme. A programme, which is not mutually exclusive to the programme of my predecessor. It is a programme with a guiding philosophy of policing with integrity where the notions of justice, fairness and the pursuit of common good will be the focus.
“The authoritarian and symbolic justice after the act epitomised by Operation Fire for Fire may now have to be fine-tuned with effective, accountable and responsive policing.
“Police job today entails more than law enforcement. It is more than bringing to justice those who breach the law. It encompasses service functions and the promotion of social happiness.
“It is about crime control that is activity-designed to encourage the public respect for the law. I am here to give because it is better to give than to receive. I shall be guided by the wisdom of the scriptures.
“The Proverbs says, “Better a little with righteous than much gain with injustice.
“Life-changing events do not happen by accident. They are not by chance.
“The Lord uses every situation in life to accomplish his purpose.”
He disclosed that the present police management team would endeavour to reconcile the maintenance of law and order with the protection of freedom.
He listed the 10-point programme as:
• Effective crime and prevention and control through intelligence-led policing;
• Combat of violent and economic crimes;
• Conflict prevention and resolution;
• Community policing and police-public partnership;
• Zero-tolerance for police corruption and indiscipline;
• Improved career development, salary and welfare packages to motivate police officers and thereby promote better service delivery and discipline;
• Reorganisation of the investigation outfit of the Force to ensure prompt and timely investigation of cases;
• Contribute positively to improving the quality of justice delivery in Nigeria;
• Empower field officers operationally by devolution of powers to improve the standards, reliability, consistency, and responsiveness of the service; and
• Re-orientate the Force PRO to focus on improving public perception and image of the Force.
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Police Affairs, Chief Broderick Bozimo, said that government would continue to support the police with resources.
He expressed satisfaction with the 10-point programme designed by Ehindero.
The Chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Simon Okeke, also urged Ehindero to have the fear of God in mind.
He pointed out that the salaries of policemen were too ridiculous.
He said, “Why would they not collect N20.00?
“I would help you to press for an upward review of salaries for police men.”
The Punch, Wednesday, January 26, 2005
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