FG set to recruit 20,000 police operatives

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman A Baba has revealed that the police high command will recruit no fewer than 20,000 police personnel between now and 2022.

IGP Baba said this in Ilorin, during his working visit to the Kwara Command of the Force.

He added that: “President Muhammadu Buhari has given approval for us to recruit 10,000 police personnel every year for six years. We have started but we have not done for 2020.

“So we are doing for 2020 and 2021 between now and the end of the year. Their training is for six months. Latest by the end of 2021 our strength is expected to increase by 20,000.by 2022.”

On the war against violence crimes in the country, Baba said: “Police is not fighting the war against banditry and other crimes

alone. All other security agencies in synergy are fighting the bandits, including the military which is leading the war and we are winning.”

Kwara Police Commissioner Emienbo Assayomo said that the Command is understaffed with just about 3,500 police officers and men.

He said: “Kwara state police Command has establishment strength of 8,000, but today, the personnel strength is less than 3,500. The Command as at present has no serviceable armoured personnel carriers (APCs), because the two we have are still undergoing repairs in Sagamu, Ogun State.

“The State has its fair share of security challenges like kidnapping, herdsmen/farmers clashes, cultism, boundary disputes, communal clashes, migration of people from the crisis- ridden states to Kwara state, the state has become crime-prone.

“The North Senatorial district has an international border with Republic of Benin in Baruten local government area which makes the area vulnerable to cross boundary.

“Crimes like smuggling and human trafficking. Kaiama Local government area of the state has a large ungoverned forest reserve that stretches to Borgu local government area of Niger State, which also makes the place a bandit rendezvous.”