IGP meets strategic police managers, commences groundworks for election security

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, on Thursday, met with Strategic Police Managers – Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police, and the Force Management Team, at the Goodluck Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The meeting, according to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Odejobi, was organised to review the internal security situation of the country as well as re-evaluating police strategies, setting the groundwork for the upcoming elections season.

The event also witnessed the flagging off of the Police Specialised Services Automation Project approved by the Federal Government.

The IGP said, “The present police administration has been involved in a massive strengthening of logistics and operational capacity of the Force which is premised on the procurement and deployment of five hundred and thirty purpose-built operational vehicles; two thousand, five hundred bullet proof vests/armoured plates; and ninety-three thousand, five hundred and eighty-three long and sort-range teargas for civil disorder management.

“We have equally ensured effective collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders, as well as deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, helicopters, for proactive aerial support to ground operatives.

“From January 2022 till date, the Force has successfully effected the arrest of three hundred and twenty-eight terrorists/bandits, three hundred and twenty-five armed robbery suspects, three hundred and thirty-nine suspects of kidnapping, and two hundred and forty-seven suspected cultists. Similarly, a total of three hundred and seven kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt, while five hundred and ten sophisticated firearms, and eight thousand, nine hundred and six ammunition were recovered.”

Baba added that the launch of the Police Specialised Services Automation Project as approved by the Federal Government, is intended to ensure the standardisation of police services rendered to members of the public, guarantee accountability, and act as a source of complementary revenue to cater to personnel welfare, as well as other administrative and operational needs of the Force.