THE NEED FOR CONTINUOUS RANDOM DRUG TEST FOR ALL SECURITY AGENTS. By our Reporter

The security of life and property of all the citizens is one of the key responsibilities of any reasonable government.

The challenge of insecurity has been a major issue confronting most nations, within the ECOWAS sub-region as almost all the countries are battling with various security issues, such as inter-ethnic war, terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping, arms trafficking and cattle rustling among others.

However, the behaviour of some security personnel’s on how they carry out their official responsibilities, gives some members of the public need to question their state of wellbeing.

For instance, we have witnessed a steady rise on the issue of extra-judicial killing in the country, perpetrated mostly by the rank and file of personnel’s of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) personnel respectively.

Officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) have also been accused of torture, brutalization of suspects, harassment of innocent citizens, an illegal raid on citizens etc. While some overzealous officers have been indicted for being drunk on duty, as well as extortion and armed robbery.

With all these allegations confronting our various security agents, some Nigerians are of the opinion that some of these officers and men, who perpetrate these illegalities are not sound, therefore need some form of urgent medical assistance.

Recently, we also witnessed the issue of a Customs personnel who promoted himself to the rank of the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC)

According to the report, the officer in question Nurai Dalhatu claimed that he has been directed to take over as the next Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) “I had a voice that directed me to take over as the new Comptroller General of Customs (CGC)”

The Customs spokesman, Mr. Joseph Attah, said a committee has been set up to investigate the issue. According to Dr. Kayode Taiwo, Head  of Department (HOD)  Psychology, Lagos State university (LASU), the officer in question may have problem either from home or his work place. “In fact most of our work places are not encouraging.  A lot of people are working under a very terrible condition/ “Mind you everybody has hopes and expatiations, and if such aspiration are not met, some may react negatively”.

Most Lagosians have also questioned, the disgraceful behaviour of some officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)

Our investigation revealed that LASMA officials are more interested in making money at all cost. That is why some have asked if they are a revenue generating organization or providing a social  service on behalf of the State? “I have personally witnessed a LASTMA operative struggling with a bus driver to impound his vehicle”.

Reports reaching our news desk reveal that most security operatives have always refused to pay transport fares, whenever they use public transportation, mostly commercial buses. This development had led to several conflicts between commercial bus conductors and such uniform men. In some cases, two or more uniformed men would board a bus and refuse to pay for such services.

According to a  commuter, some of these uniformed men that would be in mufti would even refuse to pay for bus fare during weekends. Only because they are putting on a military beret or a military vest”.

Our investigation also reveal that a lot of security agents are also abusing illicit drugs, as some of them have been found smoking ganja openly with area boys in some black spot in Lagos “I have personally seen police officers on a road block, dead drunk and armed with weapon. What do you think can happen to any one who disobey his order or command”

“You need to be in some remote parts of Ajegunle to see how policemen are racing with okada operative due to illegal toll.

We are of the opinion that it is time for the government to conduct random and continues drug test for all law enforcement  agents so that they can be offloading all those who have been found wanting. And this has to be done within the rank and file starting form the most senior security officers.