By Our Correspondent
A serving Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kaduna has disclosed that he receives only N30,000 as a monthly impress to run his division, shedding light on some of the challenges faced by law enforcement officers in Nigeria.
Speaking informally to journalists who visited the station unexpectedly, the DPO repeated his statement to the surprise of the reporters.
“I collect N30,000 monthly as impress as DPO. I’m telling you, my monthly impress is N30,000,” he emphasized, reacting to the journalists’ disbelief.
He further revealed that several operational issues hinder effective policing, but officers are restricted from discussing them publicly due to the command-and-control structure of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to him, fueling, vehicle repairs, and servicing of police patrol cars fall under the DPO’s responsibility, despite receiving only N30,000 for operational expenses.
When asked about the status of special fuel allocations for police vehicles and why there is no official platform for officers to discuss these issues with the media, he declined to respond, citing hierarchical restrictions.
The DPO also expressed frustration over public criticism of police response times and alleged negligence.
“When people complain that the police don’t respond to distress calls quickly, they don’t understand what we are going through. Sometimes, instead of laughing at such complaints, I feel like weeping,” he lamented.
During the hour-long conversation, deeper issues concerning insecurity and governance were discussed, but no clear solutions emerged. The conversation ultimately highlighted the systemic corruption affecting security operations in the country.
A Divisional Police Officer (DPO) oversees a police division, ensuring security and protection of lives and property within their jurisdiction. They manage various police stations and units under their command, playing a crucial role in maintaining law and order.
