A former ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, Mr.John Campbell has commended the ongoing investigation of the suspended head of the Police Intelligence Response Squad,Abba Kyari.
He described the probe as a sign of the government’s commitment to reform the police.
Kyari is being probed by the police authorities following allegations by suspected fraudster, Ramon Abbas alias Hushpuppi that he paid some money to the police officer to get a fellow suspected fraudster arrested.
Campbell in an analysis for the Council on Foreign Relations said the reputation of the Nigeria police is bad enough but the Kyari probe is a hopeful sign that there could be an improvement.
He said: “Whatever Nigeria’s reputation, that of the police is poor, both at home and abroad. “Among Nigerians, the police are a byword for corruption—grand and petty—and harassment, especially of the poor.
“Anti-police sentiment boiled over late last year in protests against the notoriously brutal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)—for which Kyari formerly served as the officer-in-charge—collectively known as #EndSARS.
“The Buhari administration has promised police reform, of which there has been little evidence. However, the investigation of Abba Kyari could be a hopeful sign.”
