The Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force yesterday, vowed to end the rivalry between the two agencies.
Major General Enobong Okon and CP Imohimi Edgal .
The heads of the agencies agreed that there was an urgent need for inter-service synergy between them so as to fight crime in unity .
General Officer Commanding 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Enobong Okon, who was on a courtesy visit to Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command , Imohimi Edgal, in Ikeja said he has come to cement the relationship between the army and the police .
He said the inter-rivalry between the Police and the Military was a thing of the past as any soldier caught fighting the police would be held responsible and given severe punishment ” It is against the role of our engagement to fight on the street or to make trouble with the members of the public.
The army won’t tolerate any soldier fighting with the police , other sister agencies or the member of the public. We will discipline such a deviant. We want the police to do same and if we sanction our men,there will be sanity in the organisations. There must be disagreement and whenever there is any ,the head if the two forces should resolve it amicably or be held responsible”.
He said : “The Nigerian Army is ready to close rank with the Police as far as security is concern in Lagos. I have gone round and heard a lot of issues and problems that exist in various parts of the state such as Militancy, cultism, armed robbery , sea robbery, piracy, activities of pipeline vandals and so many other threats. I must however, commend the CP and his lieutenants for what they are doing since you (CP)took over .
I have seen the way and manner peace has been reigning in the state through your community policing drive .
There is however , need for synergy. I have gone round my units and have been preaching one sermon which is synergy and cooperation with the police and other services including those at the boarder. I am here today to forster that synergy . I want us to take this inter- service a cooperation to another level as it is in Niger Delta , where I came from.
” Between January and now, you can notice the disgraceful and unbecoming issue cropping up between security agencies in Lagos. The CP, other senior police officers and myself are to be held responsible for this inter service rivalry .
If a soldier continues to see police as his enemy and a fight ensued in the process, it is not the soldier of Rank and File policeman that should be held responsible, but the CP and myself. This is because we have not foster a situation where such inter service rivalry will be eliminated.
” From today , based on this understanding , partnership and what is happening here today, I want to believe there won’t be any situation where police and soldiers will be seen fighting. On my part, I will not tolerate any situation whereby any soldier will treat a policeman anyhow. I have preached that every where I go.
Constitutionally, an Army personnel is forbidden to be seen quarreling or fighting in public. If he is caught, he is liable to a trial process which can get him dismissed from the Force.
“The truth is that we will continue to meet each other out there because our responsibilities are similar .Between January and now, we have also made arrest of criminals. We are complimenting each other and are after same purpose.
“There is need for us to close rank and pursue our respective mandate objectively with close synergy, the Police can’t do it alone. Let us work together in synergy and cooperation to eradicate all manners of inter agency problems”.
He therefore, urged senior police officers present to take the message back to their units and commands and also called on the need to see themselves as friends instead of enemies.
To solidify the move, the GOC said joint trainings, route match , show of force should be held between both sides regularly to pass the message of inter service synergy. To further foster this, he invited the CP, his lieutenants and other senior police officers to an Army event tagged ‘ Multi Agency Solidarity lunch and happy hour which the army holds every month, adding that the invitation would also be extended to other agencies in Lagos.
Responding, CP Edgal who described the GOC’s visit as apt, said that the synergy between security agencies in Lagos was next to none, pointing out that some breakthroughs recorded by the command had been in joint collaboration with the Military in particular.
For instance , he stated specifically that the Military played important role in tackling the menance of Badoo, as well as other operations carried out in trouble prone areas in the state.
He pointed out that the constitutional role of the Police included performing other roles played by the military, while the military by constitution, are meant to play supplementary role.
He explained that the strength of the command would not adequately match the state of crime in the state as thousands of people enter the state daily without returning back. He therefore commended the Military for assisting in combating crime.
He said :” we may have different roles but we are working for the same government and we have the same mandate of ensuring that peace reigns . We are one. But unfortunately, as human beings, we must have misunderstanding . But we must quickly rise up to that, so that the situation does not escalate”.
He assured that the command under his watch would not only strengthen the synergy but would build a platform where subsequent CP, would tow the line
