The spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Conchita Braide, is the first female image maker for the command. A Deputy Superintendent of Police, Braide joined the Nigeria Police on August 15, 1996 as a Cadet Inspector. Before she was named the Police Public Relations Officer for Lagos State, she rose to become the Sectional Head of Oil & Gas Fraud Section of the Special Fraud Unit and was there from 2007 till 2012. In this interview with PATIENCE OGBO, she spoke on the challenges facing the police force, the role of female police officers and the need for the public to have confidence in the police to tackle crime and criminality. Excerpts:
How do you feel being the first female spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command?
I do not feel anyhow because during our days at the Academy, we were given equal training. The same lecture, the same exams. I see it as one of those things.
What part of the country are you from?
I am from Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.
How have you been coping working in a male-dominated environment?
Like I said, for the fact that I am here today, should tell you a lot. I have both men and female working with me and I do not feel intimidated in anyway.
How have you been able to defend a Force generally considered corrupt by the public?
The Nigeria police is a fragment of the society and we did not sprang up from nowhere. In all establishments, there is corruption but because we have direct contact with the public, on a daily basis, that is why people feel we are worst.
Is it not the failure of the police to enforce law, especially on corruption, that we have corruption cases everywhere?
How is it the failure of the police? We are from this society. Even the corrupt officers the Force has its way of dealing with them. We have the IGP Monitoring Unit and other departments which check corruption and excesses in the Force.
What reaction did you get from family members and friends when you told them you want to join the Police?
It is the usual response of No!No!No! And their reason is because they feel the police is corrupt but those people who said no yesterday are the ones saying yes now. Since I became the image maker, a lot of people have been calling me to say we do not know that people like you are in the police and they want to join the police.
So why did you join the police?
It was not my making. I really did not want to join the police but one day when I was still in school, my mother told me that she likes the police and would like me to join as a cadet officer. So that was how I joined the police. Initially, I did not like it but I am grateful now and I have no regrets about joining the police.
Would you allow your children to join the police?
Yes, I will advice my daughter to join if she wishes because it is a job I respect and love so much. I will encourage anybody close to me to join the police.
There is this notion that female police officers sleep with their bosses for promotion. What do you have to say about that?
This is a very big insult on the female police officers. Are you saying that the female police officers do not have brains? I do not know how you came about that information because female police officers are hardworking and dedicated. They are also brilliant.
How do you handle sexual harassment in the office?
Sexual harassment is everywhere and just like I said about corruption, it is the weak ones who will allow themselves to be used. You are a journalist. Have you not been sexually harassed? So why point to the police? The truth is that people do not see anything good in the police so that is why they say negative things. But take the police from the stations, from the streets and from the community then you will know how important we are. These same people saying all the negative things about the police will be the first to call the police when they are in need.
What is the challenge you face most since you became the PPRO?
The major challenge I have faced since I became the image maker is that my phone has been invaded. My phone rings nonstop and I have to answer it because I do not know who may be in distress. I am not complaining. I love what I do but like I said it is part of my work schedule and I am not complaining.
There have been a lot of clashes in some areas. What is the command doing to check the black spots in the state?
Some of these things are communal clashes, especially the Ilaje clash. We have Armoured Personnel Carrier stationed there and our marine police are patrolling the waters. We also have policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, the Bariga anti-robbery squad, the Rapid Response Squad and APCs on ground to check violence in these areas.
What is your advice to the public?
The public should assist the police with useful information. They should be security conscious and report any suspicious movement to the nearest police station. They should have constant communication with their Divisional Police Officers also.