SEQUEL to the recruitment of about 10,000 Nigerians as police personnel, President Muhammadu has approved the recruitment of another 10,000 this year, with another 10,000 Nigerians to be subsequently engaged.
Supervising Deputy Inspector General of Police, South West geopolitical zone, Foluso Adebanjo, made this known on Thursday when he led other top police officers in the zone to Oyo Governors Office, Ibadan, for a courtesy visit.
He said the need for engagement of additional 30,000 police personnel starting from last year aimed at addressing the understaffed Nigerian police force.
According to Adebanjo, the bulk of those to be recruited would be constables and cadet inspectors.
“We are going through some challenges like shortage of manpower. The federal government allowed the recent recruitment of 10,000 police officers who are currently being trained. The FG has approved the recruitment of another 10,000 this year. The Inspector General of Police has written the federal government and we are looking at getting a total addition of 30,000 police personnel. We are expecting that the President will accede to that because we are truly understaffed. And, that is why we have to collaborate with the military and other services to have a peaceful society. No one security outfit can do it all,” Adebanjo said.
Among other strides to ensure discipline among its officers, he sounded the warning that any police officer found guilty of abusing the rights of Nigerians would be dismissed within 48 hours.
He added that officers had been told not to be carried away by their uniforms to trample upon the rights of Nigerians.
“I have spoken to all our men on the need to respect the human rights of all Nigerians that we are servants, we are to protect and serve them, they are not criminals, that they wear uniforms does not make them better than other Nigerians. They have been warned that we will not tolerate any officer that is going against the law. I have told them that if they kill any citizen, they will be dismissed within 48 hours, tried and be charged to court. In Lagos and Osun where such has happened, the officers were dismissed within 48 hours,” Adebanjo added.
In his remarks, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Adeyemo urged the police to effectively collaborate with other security agencies to end herdsmen clashes, kidnapping and ethnic rife in parts of the country.
He decried the recurring instances of kidnapping, praying that the police up the ante in efforts to stem the tide.
Ajimobi assured of the continued cooperation of the state government with the police to ensure a peaceful and secured society.