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An average Nigerian policeman is aggressive and over-zealous due ostensibly to the harsh environment as well as the psychological stress he is subjected to, SUNDAY PUNCH investigations have shown.

The disclosure is coming just as seven of every 10 policemen in the country may not have for many years observed their annual vacation, even as they work round the clock without being paid any special allowances.

The psychological stress, our correspondent gathered, affect both the junior and senior cadres as they all work under the same hostile condition.

According to a cross section of policemen who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja, they work under frustrating environment which has little room for self-expression or personal development.

A Police Inspector, who craved anonymity for the security of his career, said he had been on the same rank for over six years, while some of his colleagues who allegedly knew influential politicians had been promoted above him.

He explained that they worked under serious strain, adding that some of them were even forced to work for three days consecutively without being allowed to go home to refresh or change their uniforms.

This, he attributed for the antagonistic and over-zealous character of some of his colleagues, particularly those in the rank and file who could not cope with the work pressure and the psychological trauma they face.

”Police officers are not finding it rosy because we work under a difficult environment where you have to go to great lengths to get basic things done and Nigerians are not making it easy for us. When a police officer is antagonistic, he might also be reacting to what people do when he issues an instruction. An officer working under serious pressure cannot be expected to joke with you if you disregard his directive and argue with him. To argue with policemen is akin to calling them idiots; don‘t do that,” he warned.

A Corporal who joined the Force about six years ago said he had never gone on annual vacation, adding that the service did not give officers such privilege.

Some of his colleagues who wanted to get married, he said, were given a few days to conduct the marriage and report back for duty and they had to show their the wedding invitation cards to convince senior officers about the genuineness of their requests.

A Deputy Superintendent of Police who lamented the negative effects this had on productivity and mental health, pointed out the difference in attitude of police officers who have taken part in peace support operations of the United Nations and those who have not travelled outside the country‘s shores in terms of disposition to work, human relations, respect for the public and responsiveness to security matters.

Many of such police personnel who returned to the country from peace support operations in Liberia, Somalia, Haiti, Sudan, East Timor and elsewhere, he added, were more approachable and disciplined on account of the positive environment created by the UN under which they served.

He said ,”When a police officer with the peace support operation works for 30 days, he gets a compulsory time off for six days and he gets his allowance without any delay. Many police officers have worked for several years without annual leave and this would naturally affect their performance, productivity, psychology and attitude to the public.”

The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Yemi Ajayi, however, said there was no deliberate policy preventing policemen from taking annual leave, adding that the Force gave its personnel opportunity at the beginning of every year to fill in their schedule and proposed time for vacation.

But the exigency of duty like elections or emergency security issues might prevent an officer from enjoying his deserved leave, he added, stressing that some policemen did go on leave once their application was approved.

Commenting, the President, Nigerian Association of Clinical Psychologists, Prof. Peter Ebigbo, said the nation should learn to treat its law enforcement agents with respect.