5 Reasons Lagosians Don't Like Police Officers

The mantra that the ‘Police is your friend’ is a popular, yet meaningless inscription you find in almost all police stations in Lagos. It is Only a JJC that will believe it. In fact, the sight of a person in uniform brings goose pimples to some Lagosians. Lagosians hate the police for many reasons but here are 5 reason Lagosians don’t consider the police as their friend.

1. Bribery and Extortion

Bribery is no doubt the biggest reason the police in Lagos is hated and has lost all sense of respect. Every police officer is viewed as a potential bribe collector. Some people with the means even break the law knowing that they can pay their way through. Lagosians feel that the toughest of police can be broken down by offering him a few Naira notes. This has made the police lose all sense of respect among the citizens.

2.Response

911 is the first thing that probably comes to the mind of any American in time of distress. Some Lagosians feel that the police never respond on time but only come after the storm has cleared. In a robbery situation for example, there is the popular belief that the police will claim they have no fuel but will come after the robbers have gone hours later blowing their sirens!

3. Crime

The police is supposed to fight crime but some Lagosians feel police officers sometimes perpetuate crime. Some Lagosians feel the police support criminals with guns to commit crime and this has left a bad taste in the mouth of a lot of people. Whether this is true or not cannot be confirmed that it has been alluded to many times that a lot of people believe it.

4. Ill-Trained Officers

Some Lagosians believe a lot of police officers are not well trained and therefore cannot trust them to handle situations. Some people suggest that the lack of professionalism in the police force is because a lot of renegade officers joined the force due to unemployment. People would rather handle situation themselves rather than involve the police.

5. Trust

Trust, they say, is earned and not forced upon. A lot of Lagosians don’t trust the police at all and this is due to experiences they have had with the police in the past. These incidents have shaped the way people perceive the police making it difficult to believe any reformation is possible.in fact, some parents advise their children not to join the police force as it is the worst profession.

****In Conclusion

The place of the police in a society is to serve and protect and the police in Lagos need to show the people that they are capable of doing this. The police must display a sense of willingness to work and shun corruption so that the dark cloud hovering over the image of the police will be removed and they can earn the applause and respect of the people