IGP suspends SPY officers for wearing conventional police uniforms

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has suspended two supernumerary officers (SPY) for allegedly wearing uniforms meant for conventional police officers.

The suspended SPY officers are Obaze Blessing and Obaze Emmanuella Uju.

Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, in a statement on Friday, said one of the suspended police officers adorned the rank of a superintendent of police.

Adejobi said the action of the SPY officers is against the provisions of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 and other extant regulations.

Usman Baba, inspector-general of police, was quoted as warning against the incessant use of uniforms restricted to conventional police officers.

“The supernumerary police, by the combined effects of the Police Act, 2020 and the Nigeria Police Guidelines for Recruitment/Promotion/Discipline of Supernumerary Police (SPY), 2013 was established solely to complement the services of regular police officers when needed by ministries, departments and agencies/multi-national companies, and banks who make requests and upon approval pay for their training and cover their emoluments for the period of their engagement,” Adejobi said.

“Similarly, extant laws delineate the supernumerary uniform. It states that they must be on their approved uniform, ash coloured shirt with “SPY” inscriptions all over, over black with shoulder badge carrying the word “SUPERNUMERARY”.

“Supernumerary officers adorning police black, neon blue or camouflage uniforms run afoul of the law and would be adequately sanctioned.

“The suspended supernumerary officers – Obaze Blessing with SPY number 5709, and Obaze Emmanuella Uju with SPY number 5708, adorned themselves in conventional police officers’ uniforms contrary to the code regulating the SPY service.

“One of them similarly adorned the rank of superintendent of police which is contrary to extant laws.”

The SPY officers were also reprimanded for their conduct in videos posted on TikTok.

“Above all, they portrayed themselves in the viral video and other videos as undisciplined and unprofessional, in contravention of the police social media policy, with acts glorifying ill-gotten wealth and ill-morals, which has received wide condemnation from members of the public,” the statement reads.

WHO ARE SPY OFFICERS?

SPY police are individuals mainstreamed into the police force on a temporary basis to perform certain policing functions, mostly at the request of private organisations or government officials.

SPY police officers are usually deployed to protect public and private facilities or carry out certain functions that require security.

According to the Nigeria Police Act 2020, SPY police officers are not paid by the NPF, but by private organisations that request their services.