As police recruitment begins, a group, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has alerted the authorities involved on the need to follow laid down guidelines and processes “because it is crucial to the quality of personnel recruited, police professionalism, performance, conduct, public perception and effectiveness in discharging their constitutional functions of providing safety and security and serving as guardians of human rights, rule of law and ultimately, supporting democracy.”

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, group said: “Part of the problems of the Nigeria Police is that the recruitment process allows criminals and misfits to find their way into the police, adding: “President Obasanjo said so in 2008. And I know it’s damn true.”

The statement further noted that “some enter with forged educational certificates. Some with their relatives’ certificates and end up bearing the names of the actual owners of the certificates, while some don’t meet the requirement for physical fitness.

“Prospective recruits are supposed to go through levels of screening, background checks and written tests. But these processes are often circumvented for many who join the police only after paying bribe. Politicians don’t also help matters. They draw up and send lists of candidates they know are not qualified and put pressure to get them enlisted by any means.

“What are the established guidelines for police recruitment? Are we going to continue to make the same mistakes all over again and again and the problem continues?

“Most applicants do not see the police as a career dream or path but as the only available employment opportunity. Some are even motivated by the perverse notion that joining the police will provide them the opportunity to misuse their uniform and weapons for self enrichment. I have actually heard one applicant say so and he thought it was a legitimate aspiration.

“Many people that found their way into the police force are illiterates and untrainable. Some have bad criminal records. Those are the ones who the citizens mostly encounter on a daily basis and who commit the crimes and abuses that dent the image of the police, perpetuate negative public perception of the police and widen the trust gap.”