Some identified men of the police have lamented, in a precarious manner, the ill-treatment they have encountered ever joining the police force.

The newly recruited constables of the Nigeria police force revealed that, having passed out of police academy April, they have been in post-duties; but without payments.

The police recruits (names withheld) stated they had gone to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for ‘Integrated Payroll and Personal Information’ authentication in September, hoping to receive salaries in October; but to no avail.

“We are hungry. We have been working since April without any salary. Our commanders won’t stop posting us out for duties, despite the fact that we are not paid.

“Many of us till depend on our parents and relatives to feed ourselves. It’s been very tough. Many of us have borrowed money from people while also owing food vendors around our areas. Most times we wait by the roadside to get free ride, when we don’t have money for transport fare. This is not how officers of the law should be treated.”

The policemen lamented the risks involved in executing their duties, adding that they are being treated unfairly.

“Don’t forget that one of us was killed by armed robbers in Kogi on June 4. That’s the risk in this job, yet our welfare is not important to the authorities. How can anybody work for six months without being paid?

“If this had happened in the civil service, you would have seen them on the street with placards. But, we are voiceless. We dare not talk about it outside. We should be suffering and smiling. It doesn’t happen like that in other agencies.”

The constables urged the Federal government, and the Inspector General of police, Mohammed Adamu, to save them from the distressful situation of depending on others for food.

Ozoemela Chikwas reporting, Obinwannem News