By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Benin City – Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris has warned against corruption as 283 constables passed out from police training school, Ogida in Benin City last weekend.
IGP Idris said any Officer found engaging or to have engaged in acts capable of tarnishing the image of the Nigeria Police Force would receive commensurate punishments.
He stated this during the Passing-Out-Parade Ceremony of police constables, June 2018 intake, at Police training school ground, Ogida, Benin City on Saturday, December 22, 2018.
Represented by the commissioner of police in Edo State, CP Johnson Kokumo, the IGP stated that the constables were among 6,000 recruit constables that passed out simultaneously from various police colleges across Nigeria.
He added that the training and subsequent passing out parade of constables cut across the general duties, sport and transport categories of the force to improve the current strength of the police which stood at 300, 000.
IGP Idris noted that to ensure that the trainees turned out with a high level of professionalism, the recruits’ manual was reviewed to meet the demands of contemporary policing.
Idris however explained that seasoned security experts and consultants were deployed to impact knowledge on the trainees.
“They were taken on special lessons on community policing, maintaining peace in conflict areas and the use of firearms, public order act and others,’’ he said.
IGP Idris further stated that the Federal Government had embarked on the recruitment of 10, 000 additional police personnel to enhance its operations in the country.
He said the recruitment and training were aimed at meeting the United Nations (UN) recommendation of one policeman to 400 people.
“The recruitment of these 6, 000 recruit constables who have completed their training across the country is to meet the UN recommendation of one policeman to 400 people.
“The Federal Government thought it wise to commence recruitment of another 10, 000 police to meet the UN recommendation.
“It will interest you to know that the federal government has made funds available for the four premier colleges of Ikeja, Kaduna, Oji-River, Maiduguri and other police training schools across the country”. He noted.
He charged the constables to be diligent, selfless and patriotic while discharging their duties.
“The constables, who were drawn from six states, underwent six months intensive course on all aspects of modern policing and human rights issues.
“This passing out parade comes at the right time as the preparation for general election which will commence in few months to come.
“As policemen, you must have respect to the rule of law, fundamental human rights, and loyalty to the nation and the Force must be resolute and total,’’ the police boss said.
According to statistics made available by the Commandant, Police Training School, Ogida, Benin City, ACP Jonathan Modi, a total of 303 comprising of 215 males and 88 females started the training on June 8th, 2018.
ACP Modi also revealed that during the training, 12 specialists (Trades men) made up of 11 males and one female passed out on September 28th, 2018, while three recruits comprising two males and one female were dismissed for various disciplinary offences.
He however gave the breakdown of the 283 successful recruit constables as 207 males and 77 females all general duties/sport.
Some of the newly passed out constables while describing the training period as rigorous, eventful, physically and mentally tasking thanked the federal government and their instructors for the excercise.
They however pledged to always be professional in the discharge of their duties.
