The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to give divisional police officers (DPOs) enough time to rest.

MURIC, in a statement by its director, Ishaq Akintola, on Tuesday, said the appeal became necessary because of the recent deaths of DPOs.

“MURIC appeals to the current IGP, Usman Baba Alkali, to evolve means of allowing DPOs to relax,” Mr Akintola said. “The location of police officers’ messes around the country, similar to what obtained in the army, may be a way out. This is a place where DPOs can meet, relax and exchange ideas. It helps to reduce stress.”

Citing recent deaths of DPOs, Mr Akintola described the development as worrisome amid the worsening insecurity across the country.

“It is our considered opinion that the deaths of these DPO are stress-related. We also strongly believe that it is not unconnected with the state of insecurity in the country,” he said.

He recalled the death of the DPO of Elimgbu Police Division in Obio/Akpor, Rivers, on August 30, 2022, and that of Salami Mojeed, the DPO of Seme Border, on January 10.

“Another DPO, Superintendent of Police Abubakar Musa of Jahun Local Government, Jigawa, also gave up the ghost inside his office on Friday, January 27. Though unverified, there is a report that a former Inspector General of Police (IGP) once ordered DPOs to be sleeping inside their offices. That was at a period when armed robbery became an alarming trend,” noted the MURIC statement.

It added that shifts should become “more regular and longer to allow proper rest of sensitive but overworked parts of the human anatomy.” 

Such long shifts “will allow officers to visit their families” the MURIC leader explained. 

“The human mind relaxes more easily when in the company of loved ones, particularly marital partners and offspring,” he added.

(NAN)