The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon
Arase, has said the Force will henceforth carry out urine tests on all
policemen for signs of drug abuse before they are issued lethal weapons
or posted to their operational points.
Apart from denying access to firearms or
retrieving guns from officers who failed such drug tests, Arase stated
that the police would provide appropriate help to wean them from drugs
or other emotional or psychological issues that may trigger fatal
outcomes in their line of duty.
The IG said this on Wednesday in Abuja
during the inauguration of drug testing and campaign against sudden
death among police officers organised in collaboration with Hypertension
and Diabetes Awareness Foundation.
Arase said the police had attracted
public odium through misapplication of weapons which he said could be
due to mishandling of firearms by police officers who were
psychologically unfit to handle weapons at that particular time.
He said,
“Some of these psychological problems could also have resulted from drug abuse by few of our men. We have therefore decided that the medical assessment of persons we recruit into the police force will include a psychological assessment.
“In addition, effective immediately, we will carry out snap urine tests for signs of drug abuse on all policemen before we issue any lethal weapons to them or at their operational points. We are in partnership with a reputable group of psychiatrists and psychologists in this project.”
The police chief said he had initiated a
policing strategy that would make the Nigeria Police transit from
exclusive reliance on lethal weapons in the management of threats and
social disorders to the engagement of less lethal weapon system such as
electro-muscular disruption weaponry, known as taser or stun gun.
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