Buhari, IGP Usman Baba Slammed Over New Hijab Dress, $1m Donation To Afghanistan

IGP Usman Alkali Baba, the Inspector General of Police, has been informed by Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, that wearing a hijab does not shield female cops from AK-47 gunshots.

HURIWA also criticized President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to give $1 million to Afghanistan through the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) in a statement released on Sunday.

Usman Baba has been chastised by a civil rights advocacy group for introducing an Islamic dress code for female police personnel in the country.
Usman Baba has been chastised by a civil rights advocacy group for introducing an Islamic dress code for female police personnel in the country.
The group said that President Buhari’s donation of $1 million in public funds to the OIC without authorization for onward distribution to the Islamic dictatorship in Afghanistan that came to power was unlawful.

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A statement by Buhari read: , “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.

“HURIWA wonders how the new dress code is of any usefulness 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 fanatism and the hijab controversy that has sharply divided and inflamed states such as Osun, Kwara, amongst others. He should desist from such fanatism 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 footdragged 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

Source: PressInformant