CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The
term national security in everyday parlance is simply a collective term that
refers to the defense and protection of a country’s
interest including the subjects contained therein. From this seemingly simple
definition of national security, it can be clearly stated that national
security is a serious concept that requires attention, ingenuity, strategic
planning and implementation because it affects practically all the major
divisions of a country :- political , social, economical, cultural and even religious. As a matter of fact, the law enforcement
agency in Nigeria; the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Nigerian Army, other
state apparatus in charge of peace building and national security must really
wake up to defend the nation’s
national security and peaceful co –habitation especially
in the wake of boko haram insurgents, Niger Delta avengers, Fulani herdsmen brutalities and some other
religious fundamentalists activities.
The inability of the Nigeria Police Force to
deliver to the Nigerian populace the core mandates of the institution coupled
with the corrupt practices, of course aided partly by some institutional
inadequacies led to the poor public image and perception of the Police by
Nigerians, home and abroad. In short, the public have lost their trust, respect
and support for the Police because of the force’s
ineffectiveness. It is noteworthy to say that the relationship between the
public and police is like that of cat and dog embedded in great mistrust and
hatred. Apparently, the inability of the force to have a people friendly
approach to issues has affected public relations practice and public
perception. Disturbed by the image of the Nigeria Police Force, a former
Inspector General of police: Mohammed Abubakar during his tenure like a number
of his predecessors advised police officers not to harass Nigerians and
journalists in the face of criticism on police’s
response to distress calls for protection from criminal activities.
This
was corroborated by The
Punch in its editorial of August 5, 2005
titled: “Police and Rights Violations” when it adumbrated the brutal activities
of police against members of the public. For instance “The Police mobile force
is nicknamed “Kill and Go” because its members are notorious for extra-judicial
killings. For refusing to part with a N20
gratification, they have sent many commercial drivers to their early graves
while on daily basis, Policemen harass law abiding citizens and boast that they
can “waste you and nothing will happen”. When the police arrest bandits or
illegally raid streets, drinking parlors and joints, most of those arrested,
who could not bribe their way to freedom are often tortured and dumped in the
prison for years in holding charges without any credible evidence to prosecute
them.”
Hence,
the need arose to, as a matter of urgency devise a professional way of managing
the crisis of reactive public relations practice of the Nigerian Police Force
to strategically position the institution for wholesome national security and
stability.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF PROBLEMS
The
Nigeria Police Force has failed in her statutory duties and functions to the
Nigerian citizenry. The increasing huge complaints of laggardness in attending
to distress calls from the citizenry, institutional inadequacies, numerous
media reports on various vices, eye witnesses‟
accounts are all pointers to the insensitivity, inefficiency and
ineffectiveness of the force. Public relations consultants, media personnel,
and the citizens all complain that the Nigeria police are usually reactive in
their approaches to statutory operations and national security issues. Besides,
the NPF reactive PR approach has left many families heart broken when faced by
life threatening security issues. These, have in no small measure affected the
public perception and image of the institution. As such, the relationship
between the Police and the public is generally hostile in spite of the popular
saying that the “Police is your friend‟.
Consequently, Nigerians‟
confidence in the police as a law enforcement agent has been eroded over the
years. This is against the backdrop of the rising state of insecurity in states
across the nation. This study therefore attempts to assess the public relations
practice of the Nigerian Police vis a vis pressing national security issues.
1.3 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The
study is anchored on the following research objectives;
• To
know the effectiveness of the current public relations practice of the Nigeria
Police Public Relations department
• To
know how the Nigerian Police can improve on its public relations practice for
improved National Security
• To
examine the significance of professional public relations expertise execution
in rejuvenating the battered image of the Nigerian Police
• To
know the if improved Media relations practice by the Police improve public
perception vis a vis reduction in bad publicity
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In
view of the aforementioned, this study provides answers to the following:-
• How
effective is the current public relations practice of the Nigeria Police Public
Relations department?
• How
can the Nigerian Police improve on its public relations practice for improved
National Security?
• Of
what significance is professional public relations expertise execution in
rejuvenating the battered image of the Nigerian Police?
• Will
improved Media relations practice by the Police improve public perception vis a
vis reduction in bad publicity?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is expected that at the end of the
study, it will from a platform on the reason why the need for effective role of
police public relation
The study will be of value to other
researcher especially in police organization and institutions, media
practitioners and academics in practice and training of journalist who are
mainly dependent on official sources of information only
Similarly, the study will make critical
analyzing of the Nigeria police force in relation to research finding with a
new to advising media and public relation practitioners, psychologist,
sociologist and the general public.
1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION
The
intention of the researcher had been to find a way of sanitizing, and enhance
the performance of the Nigeria police force through the public relation,
through co-operation
Revisiting
of the public towards effective policing and their obligations to police
operations
Due to logistics constraints, the
researcher has decided to limit the study only on the Rivers police
command
Another major hindrance or limitation is
the shortage of textbooks, especially on police and public operations
Police science and technology which is
along used as a yard stick for measuring the importance of an organization Lack
of studies already carried out on this and other related fields is another
limitation
Another area of emphasis is finance
which falls under logistics mentioned above as one of the constraining factors.
1.7 OPERATIONAL TERMS
Examination
of the nature or structure of things especially by separating it into parts for
its simple understanding and explanation In this study the following terms will
be defined conceptually and operationally
OPERATIONAL:- Men and women belonging to a department of government, concerned with
keeping public order.
PERFORMANCE: – Achieving or doing working satisfactorily without any
hindrance
POLICE: Enforcement
of law and order, and protection of life and property
COMMAND: – Part of a
force with power to control