Yenagoa-based Jonah Okah writes on the exploits of the police special squad code-named Puff Adder, which has seen it restore normalcy and peace in Bayelsa, a state hitherto held by the jugular by men of the underworld. He also makes a case for appropriate rewards and promotion for gallant officers in general police.
The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has suffered image crisis over the years on allegations of corruption and incompetence. Notably, the issue of corruption is generally an endemic problem pervading all sectors and institutions in Nigeria. It touches the judiciary, the civil service, the military, even the banking sector. Therefore, it is misplaced to selectively isolate the police.
In spite of the corruption allegations, the fact remains that there are still many good elements across all sectors.
However, no objective and dispassionate mind will hesitate to dismiss the allegation of incompetence as a warped view from puerile and malicious perspectives. The Nigeria Police Force have proven its competence and excellence in service both in local and international peace and security operations and have earned Nigeria a pride of place in the comity of nations.
Most times, one feels pity for the country’s Police for the thankless service it renders in the fight against crime, ranging from the task of contending with men of the underworld, to that of strong men in power over corruption, economic sabotage and sundry crimes.
Interestingly, no one bothers about the challenges of poor motivation, poor reward system, poor equipment and the poverty of financial security after retirement from service. Still, the police continue to receive unnecessary bashing of unwarranted accusations.
In Bayelsa State, there is no doubting the fact that until recently, the state was a hot bed of epic battles waged by men of the underworld. Like the Hobbesian state, it was a place where lives became short and brutish, with increasing wave of cult-related killings, piracy and pipelines vandalisation alongside activities of kidnappers becoming the order of the day.
In response to the wild state of insecurity, the Bayelsa State Police Command set up a special squad nicknamed PUFF ADDER, to confront headlong the activities of the dare-devil criminals in the nooks and crannies of the Bayelsa landscape, with a no-nonsense operational officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Chris Nwaogbo.
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The mandate of CSP Chris Nwaogbo-led operation team was specifically to restore peace and security in conjunction with other operation commands, backed by the motivational-spirit conscious Police Commissioner, Mr. Francis Itu of the Bayelsa State Command.
This also came on the heels of daily reports of bank robberies in Yenagoa, the state capital, one of which claimed the life of a legal practitioner, Mr. Abel Uzi, who was gunned down and the money found on him taken away in broad day light.The Chris Nwaogbo-led Puff Adder special squad swung into action like the baptism of fire, conducted discreet investigations, arrested the suspects and brought them to book. To say the least, it was a result-oriented operation that elevated the Bayelsa Police Command, and earned them thumbs-up from residents of Yenagoa.
Today, banks are enjoying absolute peace and security in the state, because the police have put in place strategic measures to forestall further occurrences.
The Puff Adder special squad is the most dreaded security intervention squad in the state. The fear of squad is widely believed to be the beginning of wisdom. Literally, the squad can be compared to Panti in Lagos, where positive results in the fight against crime are routinely recorded.
With the crack team of investigators, those who have the privilege to know the high risk the CSP Nwaogbo-led team takes, often wonder how they have gone about achieving the relative peace and security in the state.
Of course, the fight against criminals is not a tea party. While citizens are enjoying the comfort of their homes, these great men and women of courage who have signed the contract to provide security are busy sacrificing their energy, comfort and putting their lives on the line by going to criminal hideouts in the creeks, the sea and on land.
Without doubt, many temptations come their way in terms of mouthwatering offer of bribes by suspects and their godfathers, among whom are politicians, to scuttle justice; which is no mean task.
Recounting how they resisted one of such bribe offers, CSP Chris Nwaogbo threatened to arrest a high profile politician who attempted to bribe him with N50 million to circumvent the course of justice in the case of a suspect under investigation for kidnapping. The team had successfully rescued the victim and was pushing for the kidnapper to face the full weight of the law.
So, when people make hasty generalisation of corruption against the police, it kills the morale of good and decent officers with conscience, who are dutifully discharging their duties.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Itu, is not left out. In the course of his duty, he has, on several occasions, resisted bribe offers, one of which was about N500 million. This was an exciting moment in his career and service to the nation.
This, understandably, is why CSP Nwaogbo expressed his anger and frustration at what he described as frivolous petitions against him recently by the Baylesa State branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, when he said: “My brother, in case you don’t know, Puff Adder stopped the kidnapping of bank managers and business men in this town called Yenagoa. Since after the arrest of a popular kidnapper (name withheld) and his gang, have you heard of kidnapping again in Bayelsa? The NBA has not told anyone her problems if there is any please. I’m even tired of risking my life in the creeks of Bayelsa State. How many police officers have you heard in Nigeria that goes to the creeks to rescue victims of kidnapping or you think it is an easy task? Yet the NBA will not give me fair hearing and just jumped into conclusion, writing frivolous petitions. When you lose my kind of officer, you will understand what insecurity is all about,” he said.
CSP Chris Nwaogbo further stated that, “Puff Adder will continue to operate within the ambit of the law and will not succumb to any form of blackmail by a few politically exposed members of the NBA who are out to blackmail Puff Adder in a bid to cover up their failed agenda to undercut the cause of justice. When Puff Adder arrested the armed robbers that killed their colleague called Abel Uzi, and he was charged to court and freed by the court under questionable circumstances, the NBA, Yenagoa Branch, lost its critical and pretentious voice. In other states, the NBA is a partner in progress in the fight against crime”.
Against all odds, Operation Puff Adder has busted over 50 cases of kidnapping and high profile cases of armed robbery and brought them to book. Among these are those of the kidnappers of 115-year-old Chief Titus Isu, the kidnap of Emmanuel Ogodo and Osazuwa Micheal, Staff of Azikiel Company. Others include those of Vivian Obinna Okoye, Dr. Ogregede Ileimokumo, Chief Pichard Seiba, the Paramount ruler of Okordia clan.
With the full assistance of the security conscious governor of the state, Senator Douye Diri, the Chris Nwaogbo-led Puff Adder squad in conjunction with CP Francis Itu, Bayelsa has become the most peaceful and secured state in the Niger Delta and (arguably) in the southern part of Nigeria generally.
It is against this background that a former Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa, CP Hilary Opara, recommended him and other officers for special promotion.
Even ardent critics of the police in Bayelsa have lavishly conceded that Puff Adder is the best thing to have happened to the state in the fight against crime since its creation.
They have proved against the naysayers that the police are a friend indeed, contrary to the misconceptions by some segments of the society.
Therefore, the police deserve the support and understanding of the general public, as the business of security is a collective responsibility of all.
We must appreciate those who sacrifice their comfort for the peace and security of all in the midst of poor reward system.
This is where the Inspector General of police, IGP, needs to reinvent a new reward system by identifying officers like those at Puff Adder and other intervention operations for special recognition and promotion.
The Force Headquarters and the Police Service Commission need to reject the worn-out saying that police reward is in heaven. Police officers are humans and deserve the best of motivation and reward while on earth. They have families and responsibilities; so no amount of reward is too much for their priceless sacrifices for the general good of the citizens.
The federal and state governments should take cognizance of the fact that there is an inseparable nexus between security and sustainable development. This is where they should go beyond the golden handshake and precepts by identifying fine officers like Chris Nwaogbo who leads Puff Adder under the committed leadership of CP Francis Itu and consider them for life-changing reward both by the Force Command and the State government.
On the part of officers of Puff Adder, they should not let up the fine spirit in them despite the daunting challenges and the distractions by arm-twisting critics. History will certainly vindicate their historic exploits in the fight against crime, as their rewards will certainly come in the fullness of time.