National Security Threats Heightened By Arms Proliferation In Sub-saharan Africa – IGP
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has decried the proliferation of arms in sub-Saharan Africa which has consequently led to an increase in security threats within the nation.
The Police Chief expressed these concerns during a meeting of the leadership of the Force on Wednesday, 3 August, 2022, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
TheFact Daily learns that the meeting of Strategic Police Managers, comprising Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs) was held to x-ray the general security of the nation as well as make positive and proactive projections on management and effective decimation of security threats in the land, and equally prepare in earnest for credible and secured general elections in 2023.
Regarding the increase in security threats, the IGP made notable reference to the attack, last month, on the Kuje Correctional Facility in Abuja, but however, acknowledged the compliance level of strategic managers on identifying vulnerabilities at custodial facilities in their respective areas. He complimented the Correctional Service in upscaling security in and around such facilities to forestall further security breaches.
He directed all strategic police managers to commence an immediate special visibility policing operation across all Commands taking into cognizance crime mapping, and massive deployment of operational and intelligence assets and manpower.
On the recently concluded Ekiti and Osun State Gubernatorial Elections, the IGP, while commending the police managers for the exceptional level of professionalism displayed during the polls, charged them to draw on the success towards enhancing election security management operations during the 2023 general elections.
IGP Baba further emphasized the importance of training and re-training in the achievement of any organizational goal, and disclosed that plans have been concluded for the commencement of the Election Security Management Workshop organized by the Force in conjunction with Solar Security and Consult Company Ltd.
According to him, the Workshop, which is a “train-the-trainers” programme designed to broaden the knowledge and operational competence of strategic officers, will hold across the six geo-political zones of the country within the month of August.
Attendees will include about 400 police officers, and personnel from the Military, Department of State Services, and other security agencies who complement the police in election security management.
The Police Chief, concluding his remarks at the conference, emphasized the importance of the protection of fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
He therefore charged all officers to discharge their duties professionally in line with the dictates of the law, as anyone found wanting, or who tramples on citizens’ rights which they have vowed to protect, will be identified, isolated, and dealt with.
