Proper profiling needed to avoid recruiting criminals into NPF, says Chikwe Udensi

Chikwe Udensi, a systems consultant with the Interpol National Central Bureau, says inadequate profiling of recruits could allow criminals to infiltrate the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Police Service Commission (PSC) recently opened the process for recruiting 50,000 constables into the NPF.

The process followed a directive by President Bola Tinubu to strengthen community policing and enhance internal security.

Udensi spoke during an interview with Arise TV on Friday while expressing concerns over plans to recruit more police officers.

He warned that poor vetting could worsen Nigeria’s security challenges rather than resolve them.

“If you have an enemy within, it’s a very major problem,” he said.

Udensi said the absence of effective profiling allows criminals to infiltrate the Nigerian armed forces and act as saboteurs.

“You are going to compound the problem when you hire more people,” he added.

He stressed that the federal government needs to prioritise meaningful welfare, training, and vetting before embarking on further recruitment.

“The major challenge we have, and have advised the government on, is number one, first and foremost, welfare, then morale and patriotism,” Udensi said.

“The desire for people to work in the police force today is very minimal, and those who are working are totally dissatisfied.”

Addressing the poor treatment of police officers, Udensi said, “Every police officer, except for a few, gets their supplies from the store, which shouldn’t be.”

“They buy their uniforms and belts; they are not properly kitted.

“There is no proper body armour that protects them, even when they are protecting banks that are making billions of dollars or naira every year.”

He added that proper vetting must ensure recruits are not “a criminal, must be of good character, must have some level of proper communication, and have decent judgment.”

He said one of Nigeria’s major problems is the absence of a functional database to identify criminals and determine citizenship.

When asked whether state police could address insecurity, Udensi said Nigeria already operates state commands and warned that granting governors control over arms and ammunition could be dangerous.