Some of the funniest plays are those that satirise Nigerian policemen.
Often, they are portrayed as corrupt and inefficient, although a few film makers, comedians and skit makers manage to identify some heroes among them.
Whatever the case, the police are fighting back.
This is based on an order given on Sunday by the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba, Usman stopping what he sees as the indiscriminate use of police uniforms and portrayal of his officers and men.
According to him, any comedian or skit maker who wants to show portray them must first get permission from the police.
While this sounds draconian and an attempt to shield the police from criticism despite their comparative notoriety, observers would wonder how a skit maker like Officer Woos (Oladapo Gbadamosi), who specialises in police caricature will cope.
How many times will e have to apply for permission to produce such skits.
This is the IGP talking through Police PRO, Muyiwa Adejobi”
IGP therefore charged all commands and formations, the IGP Monitoring Unit, Provost marshals and X-Squad, to arrest and immediately prosecute, in accordance with the law, all persons or group of persons engaging in the illegal sales of police uniforms and accoutrements within their jurisdictions, while film or skit makers who portray the Nigeria Police Force officers in bad light, without applying for, and being duly issued a permit letter for such portrayals, to desist with immediate effect or face the full wrath of the law.
The IGP further reiterates the commitment of the Force to guaranteeing compliance with law, as the Force Public Relations Officer has been charged with the task of ensuring prompt authorisation for all applications for approvals of usage of police items in movies, in tandem with the extant laws and which will portray good values, impress positively on the Nigerian public, add value to our system, provide police officers with modern innovations to actively carry out policing duties and on-screen role models who would influence their lives and career; and consequently improve security mechanisms in Nigeria.
The Inspector-General of Police strongly believes that such sanity in movies production, regulation of sales, possession and usage of police uniforms and accoutrements will definitely impact positively on resuscitating moral values, and correcting wrong perceptions and ideologies towards commissioning of crimes in our society. It is obvious that this step will surely curb proliferation of Police kits, uniforms and accoutrements and eventually reduce police impostors-induced crimes in our society.”
