THE NIGERIA POLICE INVOLVEMENT IN UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

UNITED NATIONS HISTORY AND PURPOSE: The involvement of the Nigeria police in United Nations peacekeeping operations globally dates back to 1960, when the first mission took place in Congo. Since then, the Nigeria police have been represented in the United Nations peacekeeping missions. E.g. Namibia, Kosovo, East Timor, Liberia etc.

It is note worthy to state that the contributions of Nigerian policemen and women have been greatly commended in most of the peacekeeping operations that they have participated in. They performed excellently well at all times.
The United Nations always count on the support of Nigeria in having successful peacekeeping operations, particularly because of the enviable records of the Nigerian policemen and women.
These officers exhibited discipline, diligence, courage, and integrity in the discharge of their duties. One can say, without fear of contradiction that Nigerian police has distinguished itself as one of the best in the world through the positive attributes of its officers that have served in various peacekeeping missions worldwide.
While it is right to express the good records of the Nigerian police officers that have gone on peacekeeping missions. It is equally important to comment on the attitudes of female officers that represent the Force on these missions.




ROLE OF POLICE WOMEN IN THE PEACEKEEPING
OPERATIONS:
The Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) emphasizes the importance of the role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts.
It stresses the importance of the full involvement of the women in all aspect of promoting and maintaining peace and security, and the need to increase their role in peacekeeping missions.
It recommends specialized training for peacekeepers on the protection, special needs and human rights of women and children and urges greater representation of women in at all levels.
It should be noted that more women are needed in the United Nations missions, because of the rampant cases of sexual exploitation and abuse.
This should be seen as a very good opportunity to send more female abroad. As such they should brace up for the challenges and opportunities available in peacekeeping missions.
They should prepare their minds and reform their attitudes to meet up with the standards excepted in the mission fields.

The presence of women officers improve the response of law enforcement agencies to sexual crimes and certain types of physical violence, such as domestic violence, because such crimes tend to be committed by men rather than women, victims especially women may feel more comfortable with female officers when making statements or assisting in investigations.
It is easier for women officers to deal with cases of child trafficking in the mission’s field than men.
With more female officers in the mission operations, the risk of sexual harassment is reduced. These improvements benefit both male and female police officers.
I was privileged to serve as an investigator in the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse unit, in UN missions in Liberia (UNMIL) and in East-Timor (UNMIT).
So many cases of sexual exploitation were investigated. The perpetrators were repatriated to their countries.
Scandalous cases as sexual exploitation activities are not good for the positive image of any nation.
It should also be noted that United Nations missions are International assignments that bring people of different races, creed and cultures together.
High moral and professional standards are expected of the women officers.
The following are some laid down rules that all peacekeepers are to observe.


GUIDELINE PRINCIPLES

1. IMPARTIALITY: Do not be involved in any illegal sexual act: prostitution, child trafficking and sexual offences. The Congo and Kosovo scandal should not be forgotten in a hurry.
2. The Secretary-General of the UN has taken a zero tolerance stance on acts of sexual exploitation and abuse committed in the all agencies working with UN including civilian police or peacekeepers.
3. INTEGRITY: Conduct yourself in a professional and discipline manner, support and encourage proper conduct.
4. RESPECT: Respect all other peacekeepers regardless of status, rank, ethnic, or national origin and your superior officers. Don’t be abusive to your superior officers and uncivil to any member of public.
5. LOYALTY: Dedicate yourself to achieving the goals of the United Nations. Obey your superiors and respect the chain of command. Don’t bring discredit upon the United Nations or your country through improper personal conduct. Avoid drinking alcohol while on duty or in public.

In spite of the awareness of our women officers on the United Nations code of conduct for peacekeepers, it has been observed that some still engage in shameful activities such as drunkenness, insubordination, prostitution and general misconduct.


SUGGESTION:

It is advisable that the crop of women officers that will represent the country on foreign missions should be of high moral standards.
They should refrain from behavior that could adversely affect their credibility, professional image or impartiality that is critical to the mission.
The effort of building a positive and glorious image for the Nigerian police is a task for all policemen and women, not only at home but abroad too.
The women officers, who are going to represent the police at peacekeeping operations should be carefully selected, screened and vigorously oriented to inculcate discipline and integrity into them.
It is suggested that experienced, educated and disciplined police officers be allowed to go on the peacekeeping mission.
In fact, only those with strong recommendations, excellent performance reports and sound morally should be given the opportunity to represent the Force.
On getting to the missions grounds, the women officers should be monitored in and out of duty to ensure that they are living above board, morally and professionally.
The officers should remember that good behavior and self discipline is their security.Lastly, they should know that each one of them is the ambassador of this country.

Ethics training for police officers and administrators

Modern policing takes place in a risk management minefield. In addition to the challenges officers face on the street, every aspect of police administration — from management, recruiting, training and discipline to the handling of on- and off-duty misconduct — is subject to scrutiny and criticism on ethical grounds.
In collaboration with expert practitioners, peace officers and its many partners in the field of policing, Josephson Institute has developed highly focused training courses to help police officers, managers, and administrators perceive, prevent and resolve ethical problems. Some of the issues addressed:
-Real and perceived racism
-Screening and hiring for character
-Proper and improper uses of deception
-Recognizing and dealing with loyalty conflicts
-Dealing with abusive citizens and offensive conduct
-Limitations on the use of force
-Sexual misconduct
-Building and upholding public trust
-Protecting credibility
Learn from the nation’s expert in police ethics

NPF : PCS Confirmed The Deployment of 3 DIGs and other Senior Police Officers

The Police Service Commission has confirmed the postings of the three newly promoted DIGs, AIGs and Commissioners of Police.
CP Marvel Akpoyibo who was the DC Ops in Lagos State takes over from AIG Audu Abubakar who is now the AIG in charge of Zone 12 Sokoto
1. DIG Yusuf Haruna DIG ‘D’ Department 2. DIG Gasali D. Lawal DIG ‘C’ Department
3. DIG John H. Ahmadu DIG ‘F’ Department4. AIG John Olatunji Alapini AIG Zone 11, Osogbo
5. AIG Emmanuel I. Anuniru AIG Zone 8, Lokoja6. AIG Ganiyu A. Dawodu AIG Zone 12, Bauchi7. AIG Richard N. Chime AIG Zone 4, Makurd i8. AIG Kevin O. Opoke AIG Admin ‘C’ Depart. FHQ, Abuja9. AIG Abubakar Sardauna AIG Zone 1,Kano10. AIG Audu Abubakar AIG Zone 10 Sokoto11. CP Marvel Akpoyibo CP Lagos State 12. CP Jacob E.T. Oshiomogho CP Delta State13. CP Aloysius C. Okorie CP Cross-River State 14. CP Bukar Maina CP Adamawa State
15. CP Aliyu Musa CP Taraba State16. CP Chafe I. Mamman CP Sokoto State

NPF : POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION (PSC) APPROVED THE PROMOTION OF 87 SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS FROM CSP TO ACP

The Police Service Commssion has approved the recommendation of the Inspector-General of Police, for the promotion of following Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to the rank of Substantive Assistant Commissioner of Police with effect from 12th June, 2008.The promoted officers include are:
1 P.L. Garba 2 Celestine Okoye 3 Monday Willie4 Joseph Agaji5 Akon B. Ironu 6 Godwin Enya
7 Nseabasi E. Akpan 8 Walter Inyang 9 Chidi Nwulu 10 David Afolayan 11 Mary Azu
12 Jonathan Olarewaju13 Augustine Ezechukwu14 George Ozioko15 Abimbola Ambali
16 Habakuk Aduwa17 Rasaq Buraimoh18 Gbemisola O. Akinpelu19 Adat Ududo
20 Hakeem Aramide Busari21 Bashiru Itanola22 Ma’aji Zanna23 Joseph Ganduro-Michoth Dilli
24 Omolodun Oladokun25 Ajani Olasupo Babatunde26 Olukolu T. Shina27 Bishi S. Omololu
28 Isaac O. Akinmoyede29 Babaji Auwalu30 Aminu Pai Saleh31 Makama Hamisu Usman
32 Okon Etim Ene33 Joshua Mshelbwala34 Abang B. John35 Felix Gochuk Gani
36 Ibrahim Sabo Umar37 Mukan Gobum Joseph38 Wakili Mohammed39 Awunah N. Donald
40 Ibrahim Musa41 Mohammed Jimoh42 Abdullahi Garba43 Yahi Kwajima44 Garba Mohammed45 Bitrus Saleh46 Lasisi Akinlabi47 Kyari Gana Ahmed48 Nickson Gabeni
49 Ezekiel Tumba50 Uhahi Ajah51 Godwin Nwachi52 Abubakar Ibrahim53 Kabiru Dandibi
54 Yunana Musa55 Ishola Abdul Danbaruba56 Usman Modu57 Peter Adamu
58 Abdullahi Yerima Ibrahim59 Bello Ahmed60 Bello Yahaya61 Fave Samali
62 Jibrin Uba Riruwai
63 Aminu Rabiu64 Wakili Maye65 Abdullahi Bashiru66 Abdullahi S. Kurawa67 Vwamhi Felix Yame68 Mohammed A. Gimba69 Adze Musa70 Philip Sule Maku71 Cyril Chikezie
72 Lawal Mohammed73 Mohammed Oko Usman74 Rabiu A. Tuggar75 Elnathan Yargawa
76 Mfon A. Akpa77 Maurice A. Yusuf78 Moshood O. Gbolarumi79 Anene Nwaje
80 Godwin C. Nwobodo81 Ikechukwu Ochonma82 Bernard K. Akpenyi
83 Nkereuwem A. Akpan84 Ede Ayuba85 Murtala U. Mani86 Abdulkadir Jimoh87 Rabiu Dayi

NPF : Police Service Commission Confirmed the Promotion of 3 DIGs , 4 AIGs & 23 CPs

The Police Service Commission has confirmed the promotion of 3 DIGs, 4 AIGs, 23 CPs and 34 DCPs. The commission also confimered the promotion of Malam Nuhu Ribadu to the rank of AIG, and other officers promoted by the former IGP.
New DIGs
Yusuf HarunaGasali D. LawalJohn Haruna Ahmadu
NEW AIGS
Richard N. ChimeKevin O. OpokeSarduana AbubakarAudu Abubakar

NEW COMMISSIONERS OF POLICE
Onuoha Uka UdeIbrahim AbduSule MammanAdisa BolantaYakubu A. AlkaliSamuel DahunsiUmar D. Sa'aduMohammed J. GanaSuleiman A. AbbaBallah M. NassarawaSabo Ringim IbrahimEmmanuel O. AyeniAbdullahi Fana SalihuMusa A DauraK. C. KatsoP. Y GanaIbrahim Chafe MammanSalihu Arungu HashimuJacob E. T OshinomogboMarvel AkpoyiboJohnson UsenStephen Dienye HartPrince Austin Obaedo

NEW DCPS
Tonye E. Ebitibituwa Mrs Bosede Ayodeji DawoduMohammed Iyanda SuleJohn A. B ApadokunOlufemi A. AdenaikeOlufemi David OgunbayodeWaheed O SalauMrs Dorothy A. GimbaWilson KadafaTitilayo M BusariMrs Augustine Ngozi IhesiabaJosephn AbionaPius U UsangBourdelon MarkusR. N. ChiromaMbu Joseph MbuA. Oshodi GloverA. K. ShodipoPatrick Day DokumorSotonye Reroy WakamaJakob ArorunkoyiEmah E. BasseyJonathan U UdohIdris Farouk UmarStephen A EkpeiHycinth Dagala MeduguIssac C EkeJohn YahayaMarkus K DanladiJubrin WayaAdamu TukurDan BatureKarima Honsea HassanBilyaminu A Yusuf