From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri
Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi has stated that no law prohibits the Nigerian Police Force from conducting investigations, arresting suspected criminals, and general policing using African traditional methods, otherwise known as ‘African science.’
He spoke on Wednesday at the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) 5th annual lecture series and convention held at Vienna International Hotel, Asaba, the Delta State capital.
ACP Adejobi, who was a guest lecturer at the event with the topic Security Challenges: Finding Local Implementable Solutions, said the theme of the lecture was apt, as embracing African ways of policing environments is not forbidden, even within the police force.
He emphasised the effectiveness of informal and spiritual methods used by some communities to protect citizens and property.
“Like I said when I was delivering my lecture, there are many ways—African ways—of policing our environment. Whatever ways you want to adopt, there is nothing wrong about it.
“There are both formal and informal ways of protecting citizens and their properties. I made mention of certain examples where some communities actually went diabolical or spiritual to police their community. There is nothing wrong about it so long as it doesn’t involve human sacrifice,” he warned.
While delivering the robust lecture, Adejobi shared personal experiences where his community used thunderbolts on NEPA poles to deter vandalism, resulting in unused wires remaining untouched for 22 years.
“It happened in my community too. Even the pole incident happened in my community. My father was a king, so I was a living witness. I was in the palace when the man said, ‘This is what we can do to police these poles,’ and they put thunderbolts on NEPA poles.
“Until now, 22 years later, the wires are lying fallow because they diverted the light. They’re not using that light again. They’re using Ife to my place now. Even despite the fact that those wires are dead—there is nothing there, not powered—nobody has the guts to go and remove the wires.”
He attributed the decline in community security to the erosion of moral values, culture, and tradition, urging media practitioners to enlighten the people on the need for communities to reclaim their moral values, culture, and traditions to ensure effective security.
“So, there are so many ways to police our communities, but because we have lost our moral values, we have lost our culture, we have lost the tradition of having perfect security in our various communities.”
He stressed the need for a balanced approach to security, encouraging communities to work with law enforcement agencies.
“We must be sensitive to our surroundings, security-conscious, and dominate our communities regarding security issues,” he said.
“We’ve lost our sense of community and security consciousness,” he noted, adding: “We no longer notice or report strange faces or movements, and everyone minds their own business.
“Before, we used to take note of strangers that came to our communities, but now nobody cares anymore. We don’t bother. If you see strange faces or unusual movements, we don’t even do anything. Everybody now goes about their own business, and this is not helping us.
“We must be sensitive to things around us. We must be security conscious and dominate our communities as far as security issues are concerned, and make sure we protect lives and properties. So, I am not against having many ways of policing our environment,” he emphasised.
However, he condemned jungle justice, urging citizens to trust the security system and hand over suspects to law enforcement agencies.
“What we don’t want is taking laws into your hands. The issue of jungle justice is condemned in totality, and we don’t encourage anybody to arrest any suspect and pounce on the suspect to the extent of causing grievous bodily harm or, at times, some maiming. This is not encouraged at all.
“People should arrest suspects and hand them over to the police, following due process to protect the legal framework and judiciary processes in Nigeria,” he said.