Is the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, courting rebellion within his command?
SaharaReporters has gathered that the men and women of the Nigeria Police from several state commands are threatening fire and brimstone over his “lackadaisical attitude” to their welfare despite his announced efforts to improve the force. In addition, some of the female officers are complaining of sexual harassment and intimidation by their superiors.

Mr. Ringim is attempting reform in the force through, among others, capacity building workshops and training programmes. But a junior female police officer who spoke to Sahara reporters questioned the value of this approach in view of the fact that top officers who supervise the programmes have remained stuck to their old ways and attitude of doing things.

She said, “It is a well-known fact that it is the junior cadre of Officers that are always on the firing line of duty when there is any attack. In an attempt to change the attitude of the force and align them to global standards in terms of law enforcement, Policing and human rights, the IG has been sending many of the police constables and corporals on course or training workshops.”

Drawing attention to the last of such programmes, the Police Capacity Building and Reform course held in Odukpani, Cross River State from January to March this year for the rank and file, she said that only a few chosen officers were paid their allowances of N50,000 each.

That particular workshop trained officers drawn from Kaduna, Kano, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Enugu, Rivers Cross River, Lagos, Edo and Akwa -Ibom commands, and the practice is that the allowances are paid immediately after the course. The officer complained that while the lucky ones got their payment in April 2011, the majority has not.

"Why will some of us be selected for payment and others denied payment till now and they are telling us to help in fighting crime,” she asked.