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HISTORY OF THE NIGERIA POLICE
In April 1861, the British Consul in Lagos obtained permission from
his principal in London to establish a Consular Guard comprising of 30 men.
Two years later in 1863, this small body of men became known as the "Hausa
Guard". It was further regularized in 1879 by an Ordinance creating a
Constabulary for the Colony of Lagos. An Inspector-General of Police commanded
this Force recruited mainly from Hausas and known as the "Hausa Constabulary".
On 1st January 1896, the Lagos Police Force was created and armed like the
"Hausa Constabulary". While the developments were taking place in Lagos and part
of the Yoruba heartland, the areas now known as Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, River and
Cross River States were declared the Oil Rivers protectorate in 1891 with
Headquarters at Calabar where an armed constabulary was formed. In 1893 the area
was proclaimed the Niger Coast. Constabulary, modeled on the Hausa Constabulary,
was formed. It existed for six years and featured prominently in the British
expedition to Benin in 1896.
In the Northern parts of the Country the Royal Niger Company, which was granted
a Royal Charter in 1886 by the British Government, set up the Royal Niger
Constabulary in 1888 with Headquarters at Lokoja to protect its installations
along the banks of the River Niger. It had a mounted company known as Carrol’s
Hoses. The Royal Niger Constabulary played an important role in British
campaigns against Bida and Ilorin.
When the British Government in 1900 following the transfer of administration
from the Royal Niger Company proclaimed protectorates of Northern and Southern
Nigeria, the Royal Niger Constabulary was split into the Northern Nigeria Police
Force and the Northern Nigeria Regiment.
In the South, the Lagos Police Force and part of the Niger Coast Constabulary
became the southern Nigeria Police Force in 1906 while the bulk of the Niger
Coast Constabulary formed the southern Nigeria Regiments.
After the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914 both Police
Forces continued to operate separately until 1st April 1930 when they were
merged to form the present Nigeria Police Force with Headquarters in Lagos
Nigerians assumed overall leadership of the Force in 1964 when the late Mr.
Louis Orok Edet was appointed the first indigenous Inspector-General of Police.
Since then twelve other Nigerians, including the present incumbent Sir (Dr) Mike
Mabama Okiro has held the Office.
The flag of the Nigeria Police is horizontally divided
blue-yellow-green.
The meaning of the colours is as follows:
Blue:
love, loyalty and unity
Yellow:
discipline and resourcefulness
Green: energy and life.
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