Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Zyad Ibn Isah, says the UK Metropolitan Police is far from being perfect despite rising from its messy state in the ’80s.
Isah’s comments came on the heels of recent derogatory comments aimed at the Nigerian Police by UK Conservative Party member Kemi Badenoch, who accused the force of corruption and harassment.
Speaking on his social media account on Sunday, Isah maintained that the UK police had its fair share of a bad image in the ’80s before the introduction of David Rose’s reforms.
“I would recommend David Rose’s ‘In the Name of the Law’ to Kemi Badenoch. The truth is the London Metropolitan Police was a mess in the 1960s, 1970s, and even the 1980s.
“It was through various reforms and even a change of name that they became what they are today. If the questioner had asked a British citizen in the 1960s or 1970s whether they trusted the British police, I doubt they would have said yes.
“The situation was that bad. Nigeria and its police force are not perfect—we know that. But we will rise from the ashes, just like the UK and its police force. Aunty Kemi should enjoy her new pastime of denigrating her fatherland while it lasts,” said the Abuja-based Police officer.
The Guardian reports that Badenoch, in an interview with US media outlet, The Free Press, had lambasted the Nigerian Police and accused them of robbing citizens they were supposed to protect.
“The police in Nigeria would rob us. The police stole my brother’s shoes and his watch. It’s a very poor country, so people do all sorts of things,” began Badenoch.
“They took his shoes and his watch? It’s a very poor country. People do all sorts of things. So, giving people a gun is just a license to intimidate. But that’s not just the problem. That is not the bar we should use for the British police. When I was burgled, for example, the police were there. They were helpful before they eventually caught the person. This was in 2004, that was 20 years ago.”
