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Why my men collect N20 bribe �Bozimo, Police Affairs Minister
Bukola Ojeme
Minister of Police Affairs, Chief Broderick Bozimo on Thursday in Abuja attributed want and deprivation in the line of duty as one of the major reasons responsible for the persistent incidence of extortion by policemen on the high way.
He, however, added that the goodwill of public-spirited individuals, corporate organisations and efforts by the top hierarchy of the police establishment would soon remedy the situation.
He spoke during the presentation of food beverages to the Nigeria police in Abuja.
Bozimo said: �One area of policing that we have concentrated on recently is the problem of our policemen collecting and extorting money on the highways. And everybody knows, including myself, the reason they do this.
�Most of the time, it is because they feel we do not give them sufficient allowances. We do not provide for the usual wherewithal and all of that. So, they are compelled to begin to collect money on the road�.
�You also know the efforts we are making to try to check this terrible habit. That is why we set up a surveillance unit in the ministry, it is operative by the directive given by Mr. President. But you see, you have gone one step further. You have demonstrated to the whole country that something can be done. And with this kind of donation to a certain extent, that problem has been addressed,� he added.
He expressed gratitude to the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Ugerah Abalu, for the gesture.
�We have always said that the police work very hard for this country and one is truly pleased and delighted that public-spirited gentlemen like your self have risen up to the task of making some contribution into enhancing police service delivery by providing these beverages for our men who work under very stressful and difficult conditions on the road.�
Receiving the items on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in Charge of Operations, Mr. Mike Okiro described the gesture as what the police needed to spur it on to better performance, with a pledge that the items would be properly utilised.
Speaking to Sunday Punch shortly after the presentation, the minister said. �We have cocoa, we have ginger from Kaduna. What we do not have is ground coffee, but all the other things are here. And basically for the police and the army, you can make life easier for them, not just to criticise them from morning till evening.�
�I believe that it is in the interest of the manufacturers, it is in the interest of the police. Let them have something in their stomach first, and then when they don�t perform, you can start talking. I believe there is a need. I believe we can meet it,� he said.
The beverage consists of tea, coffee, sugar and milk concentrate in addition to some biscuits.
Sunday Punch, October 17, 2004
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