UNIFORMED OFFICERS IN NIGERIA AND THE RULE OF LAW

I was recently on a convoy where the army, the Nigeria Police and other uniform officers were in control of our movements and was shocked to note their level of brutality to fellow countrymen and women. The one that got me very angry was when we stopped to inspect a project along the road; a man wanted to pass with his car, the military officers asked him to stop, he stopped and instead of allowing him to go, (having respected their orders) they started beating the young man from the car, hence he was asked to seat on the ground till we finish. This is just a little of what these officers are capable of doing to citizens who pay their taxes to make sure that the government is running.

The principle of the rule of law presupposes that everyone is equal and that nobody is above the law. This is perhaps in theory; especially in third world nations as ours, the reality is that some people are above the law in Nigeria. For instance, the young officers in the above narrative were able to gather the courage to assault the car driver because they know that they cannot be arrested or even charged to Court for such unconstitutional and criminal violations of the right of persons.

Where is the rule of law when these officers who ought to be good examples of the law violate common tariff regulations? In states where motorcycle operations are restricted, why do they still operate with impunity? How come when a citizen wants to bring in a new car, he would have to pay a uniform officer to escort him because they know that with the man on uniform in front of the car, nobody will ask them questions on the way.

We have to check this ugly trend in the society before our children grow up to think it is a norm that the law is meant for the ordinary citizens who are helpless. Perhaps this is the major reason why, when people make some little money either through legal or illegal means, they approach the Commissioner of Police in their states to release Security Men for their movements, they do this because even when they carry unwanted products or persons in such tinted glass cars, no security man will stop them on the way in the name of solidarity.

ROLAND UWAKWE