Police Initiates Urine Test Against Drug Abuse for Officers

Solomon Arase, IGP

INSPECTOR General of Police, Solomon Arase has initiated a new scheme to make police officers undergo urine tests towards checkmating all manner of drug abuse before being issued with fire arms, lethal weapons or assigned to duty posts across the country.

This development was, according to the Police boss prompted by incessant public complaints against officers of the Force on abuse and misapplication of weapons and fire arms which indicated that a good number are psychologically unfit to handle at the time of the incidents.

Arase stated this on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of drug testing and campaign against sudden death among police officers organized in collaboration with Hypertension and Diabetes Awareness foundation adding that officers that apart from denying access and withdrawing fire arms from officers that fail the test, the Force will provide appropriate medical interventions towards restoring them to normalcy.

He also disclosed that Police is in the process of transiting from the use of deadly weapons for suppressing social disorders to lesser lethal weapons.

“Some of these psychological problems could also have resulted from drug abuse by few of our men. We have therefore decided that the medical assessment of persons we recruit into the Police Force will include a psychological assessment.

“In addition, effective immediately, we will carry out snap urine tests for signs of drug abuse on all policemen before we issue any lethal weapons to them or at their operational points. We are in partnership with a reputable group of psychiatrists and psychologists in this project.

“Orders have been placed for lesser lethal weaponry and adequate training framework is being put in place; my long term vision is to effectively address issues that engender misuse of firearms and give true meaning to our mandate of safeguarding the lives of our citizens”, Arase stated.

The IG also disclosed that he had directed the Force Medical Department to screen officers of the Police for chronic non-communicable diseases including diabetes and hypertension towards maintaining a healthy workforce ready to creditably discharge duties.