B5 Systems

Nigerian Police Showing Off New Camo

Here, you can see the Nigerian Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar sporing the new ‘urban’ pattern. While we have no idea at this point how they decided on this pattern, it’s refreshing to see leadership wearing it and soliciting feedback from the public.

While many are going to want to criticize the pattern but please remember the main purpose of a uniform and that is to identify the member of an organization. Interestingly, it doesn’t seem all that unique and resembles the so-called urban woodland pattern available in the surplus market throughout the 90s. The reason this is so important is that one of underlying factors in adopting new uniforms in the first place was that it provide, “security features to forestall impersonation.”

Tags:

21 Responses to “Nigerian Police Showing Off New Camo”

  1. MattF says:

    DEAR SOLDIER SYSTEMS EDITORIAL STAFF,

    CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL

    HAVING CONSULTED WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND BASED ON THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE NIGERIAN INSPECTOR GENERAL POLICE STAFF, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO REQUEST FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF $47,500,000.00 (FORTY SEVEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) INTO YOUR ACCOUNTS. THE ABOVE SUM RESULTED FROM AN OVER-INVOICED CONTRACT FOR CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORMS PURCHASED FROM KAUFMAN’S WEST, EXECUTED COMMISSIONED AND PAID FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS (5) AGO BY A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR. THIS ACTION WAS HOWEVER INTENTIONAL AND SINCE THEN THE FUND HAS BEEN IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT AT THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA APEX BANK.

    WE ARE NOW READY TO TRANSFER THE FUND OVERSEAS AND THAT IS WHERE YOU COME IN. IT IS IMPORTANT TO INFORM YOU THAT AS CIVIL SERVANTS, WE ARE FORBIDDEN TO OPERATE A FOREIGN ACCOUNT; THAT IS WHY WE REQUIRE YOUR ASSISTANCE. THE TOTAL SUM WILL BE SHARED AS FOLLOWS: 70% FOR US, 25% FOR YOU AND 5% FOR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES INCIDENT TO THE TRANSFER.

    THE TRANSFER IS RISK FREE ON BOTH SIDES. I AM AN ACCOUNTANT WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE. IF YOU FIND THIS PROPOSAL ACCEPTABLE, WE SHALL REQUIRE THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:

    (A) YOUR BANKER’S NAME, TELEPHONE, ACCOUNT AND FAX NUMBERS.

    (B) YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS — FOR CONFIDENTIALITY AND EASY COMMUNICATION.

    (C) YOUR LETTER-HEADED PAPER STAMPED AND SIGNED.

    ALTERNATIVELY WE WILL FURNISH YOU WITH THE TEXT OF WHAT TO TYPE INTO YOUR LETTER-HEADED PAPER, ALONG WITH A BREAKDOWN EXPLAINING, COMPREHENSIVELY WHAT WE REQUIRE OF YOU. THE BUSINESS WILL TAKE US THIRTY (30) WORKING DAYS TO ACCOMPLISH.

    PLEASE REPLY URGENTLY.

    BEST REGARDS

  2. Chris says:

    Thats funny, a prince from there sent me an email saying the same things

  3. Kharon Anon says:

    Although “…the main purpose of a uniform…is to identify the member of an organization” and to “…provide, ‘security features to forestall impersonation.’”, the main purpose of camouflage is to conceal an, “…otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed by blending with its environment” (“Camouflage” entry on “Wikipedia”).
    It seems to me that the purposes of these two concepts are anethema to each other. Just an observation…

    BTW, +1 on MattF’s comment 🙂

    • SSD says:

      Not at all. Uniforms make everyone look the same. Camouflage aids in concealment. I don’t understand how you can’t reconcile those two concepts.

  4. Conely says:

    Not too different in concept from the Russian Police/OMON camo patterns. Blend in with nothing, however most COPs in the US wear Black or Blue uniforms, so the concept makes sense. Now if we could only get a white and blue Multi Cam!

  5. BpSitRep says:

    The Nigeria ‘letter’ is funny. As for the camo pattern, makes perfect sense in an urban area, since it is the color scheme of brick, concrete. Would be best for major warfare since a battle field, which is often urban turns ‘gray’ after battles. No nice greens, yellows, etc….flat gray and black. Now just digitize it and you have a winner.

  6. Reverend says:

    FTW on the letter.

  7. straps says:

    What always gets me is the whole “low quarter dress shoe with a utility uniform” thing.

    Other than that, obviously far far more about agency branding than concealment.

  8. Doug McCoy says:

    Man, the the IG wears his new uniform well. Pity that he goes and spoils the smart new look by wearing what appears to be shoes? I would think that despite the new look he’s a desk bound police officer with limited street cred?..lol

  9. PackTray says:

    Public Enemy’s Security of the First World called, and they want their uniforms back.