- Former Commissioner of Police, Gabriel Achong, warns of compromised internal security arrangements enabling armed insurgents and bandits, benefiting powerful groups
- Achong highlights inadequate funding and sidelining of the Nigeria Police Force, emphasizing the need to restore its primary role in security
Gabriel Achong, a former Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, has sounded the alarm, asserting that armed insurgents and bandits thrive in parts of the country due to compromised internal security arrangements. Speaking in an interview at the Nigeria Police Force Zone Six Headquarters in Calabar, Achong claimed that a powerful group is profiting significantly from the prevailing insecurity.
He alleged that certain individuals and sister organizations seek to assume the responsibilities of the Nigeria Police, exacerbating security challenges. According to Achong, despite its capabilities and expectations, the Nigeria Police Force faces inadequate funding and sidelining, contributing to the compromised state of internal security.
Achong emphasized the need to restore the police’s primary role in internal security, suggesting that this shift could lead to a reduction in armed insurgency, banditry, and attacks by herdsmen. He attributed the persistence of these criminal activities to the sidelining of the police, allowing others to exploit the situation for financial gain.
Expressing concern about the declining discipline and poor dressing habits among policemen, Achong noted instances of officers wearing inappropriate uniforms during official hours. Addressing newly inducted Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs), he emphasized the importance of discipline in leadership, urging them to uphold the standards and avoid favouritism to maintain the integrity of the profession and the system.