Nigerian FG To Recruit 280,000 Policemen

THE government is to recruit 280,000 police officers, Minister of Police  Affairs, Capt. Caleb Olubolade (retd.), has said.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Olubolade, who put the number of the country’s  serving police officers at 370,000, said there were plans to increase it to  650,000.

He said while 90 per cent of the policemen would be trained in modern  policing tactics and weapons handling.

According to the minister, the move is aimed at reforming the police and  making it more responsive to meet the security challenges facing the  country.

He said modern digital trunking communication network and equipment for  tracking kidnappers and other criminals had been acquired for the police.

Olubolade said about 1110 policemen had been trained in counter-terrorism and  rapid response programme, basic intelligence course, patrol duties and operation  course.

Others are traffic management course, train-the-trainer, intelligence lead  surveillance course curriculum development and effective leadership  in public  protection, intervention, mobilisation and sensitisation training.

According to him, the government has provided about nine Bell helicopters for  the police as well as some quantity of arms and ammunitions including various  types of Amoured Personnel carriers and body protection armour (Bullet proof  vests).

The minister stated that the police received fund from the Education Trust  Fund for implementation of various projects at the Police Academy, Kano to the  tune of N580m.

Olubolade stated that in 2011, the police recorded 879 robbery cases  and 366  kidnappings while 1,609 suspects were arrested and 766 firearms and 31, 175  ammunition recovered from the suspects.

He said, "Boko Haram insurgence is predominant in the northern states of the  country; 118 Boko Haram attacks were reported in Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Niger,  Yobe , Plateau States and the FCT where 308 victims lost their lives and 33  suspects arrested."

Source: Punch