Hijab Will Not Increase Efficiency Of Police Officers – HURIWA

…Faults President Buhari’s $1 million gift to Afghanistan through OIC

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Sunday described the introduction of new Islamic dress code for female police officers in the country by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba as illegal, unconstitutional and sectarian.

HURIWA said that despite the many challenges including declining staff numbers, low morale, poor training and poor welfare confronting the Nigeria Police Force under IGP Usman Baba, it is unfortunate that he chose to prioritise religious adornment over weightier matters.

The Rights group pointedly said that the new dress code is an apparent move to fulfill the Islamisation agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

IGP Baba had on March 4, 2022 unveiled a new dress code for female police officers, saying it is in line with international best practices.

But, HURIWA declared the new dress code

HURIWA said that the attempt by President Muhammadu Buhari and IGP Baba to project Nigeria to the World as an Islamic nation will backfire as millions of Nigerians who have no religious affiliation and other organised religious group of Christians and African traditional religion (ATR) would never accept the sinister plots which will lead to avoidable disaster.

The Rights group urged President Buhari and the IGP tom as a matter of national interest asked retrace their steps before it is too late.

This was as HURIWA also condemned what it described as the ‘unconstitutional’ action of President Muhammadu Buhari to donate $1 million USD of public fund without appropriation to the Organisation of Islamic Countries for onward disbursement to the Islamic regime that came to power by the barrels of the guns in Afghanistan.

HURIWA in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko noted that Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution makes Nigeria a secular State and therefore asked when President Buhari will similarly play his ‘illegal father Christmas’ role by donating to the World’s Council of Churches or to adherents of African traditionalists.

In the words of Onwubiko; “President Muhammadu Buhari and all the pro-Islamic fanatics including those who hitherto professed loyalty to al-quaeda and taliban Islamists but are still in Buhari’s regime should consider the consequences of their actions because the rest of the population that do not share same faith won’t let themselves be enslaved and conscripted to be citizens of an Islamic State when the Nigerian Constitution rules out the practicability and legality of elevating any religion as State religion in Nigeria.

“These government officials had better have a change of hearts, respect the Constitution for the sake of national security and stability because Nigerians are watching and will take appropriate steps to preserve their religious freedoms,” he said.

HURIWA particularly said that the new dress code for female officers in the Nigeria Police created by the Constitution that forbids the elevation of any religion as State religion which include the use of hijab and studded earring would not in any way increase the efficiency of police officers nor protect them from flying AK-47 bullets fired by daring criminals and bandits in the country of late.

It further said; “HURIWA wonders how the new dress code is of any use to the shrinking 300,000 police officers in the country whose salaries are barely paid by the government and whose dilapidated barracks are unfit for pigs let alone human beings.

“Logically speaking, to what intent and purpose is the use of hijab for female police officers chasing criminals on the streets of Lagos or combating bandits on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway? Would the hijab deflect AK-47 bullets fired by bandits from hitting the officers? The IGP should get serious.

“The Nigeria Police has been in existence since 1945 and wearing of hijab for female police officers is illegal and unconstitutional as the religion of public officers, including members of the security agencies, should be a private matter to them.

“Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that government and all its agencies should be neutral in religious matters while Section 42 of the same Constitution forbids discrimination in all its ramifications.

“The IGP, being a Muslim from Borno State where Boko Haram operates freely, should not use the post he currently occupies to enthrone Islam on the plurality of members of the Force comprising Muslims, Christians, Catholics, traditionalists, etc.

“The IGP should respect his oath of office and desist from fanaticism and the hijab controversy that has sharply divided and inflamed states such as Osun, Kwara, amongst others. He should desist from such fanaticism as demonstrated by the government-backed Hisbah Police in northern Nigeria.

“If the Muslim female officers are allowed to wear hijab, how should policemen and women who are in the Celestial Church dress up when the practice of their church is against wearing shoes at all? And how should traditionalists who are in the police force dress up, with charms and amulets round their uniforms?

“It is curious that the IGP who has woefully failed to instill discipline and professionalism amongst his operatives and foot dragged in the case of alleged notorious fraud accomplice and cop Abba Kyari is the same person introducing a new dress code for female police officers.

“This IGP is a failure and deserves to be sacked so he can very well go back to North East to become his local Imam in his local mosque.

“Usman Baba should focus on combating crime, improve citizens engagement and help guaranty safety of lives and property. The religious preferences of policemen and women should be their private matters,” HURIWA stressed.