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From Gyang Bere, Jos
A Non Governmental Organisation under the umbrella of CLEEN Foundation has engaged the Nigeria Police Force on capacity building with a view to bring to bear their professionalism in curbing all form of criminality to guarantee free, fair and peaceful election in 2023.
Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation, Gad Peter disclosed this on Monday during a five days capacity building workshop for Divisional Police Officers on election security management in Nigeria, held at Crispan Hotel Jos, Plateau State.
The workshop which was organized by CLEEN Foundation, supported by Global Security Foundation (GSF) in collaboration with the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), had Divisional Police Officers drawn from the North Central zone as participants.
Peter explained that the training is going on simultaneously across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria to enhance the capacity of the Police Force in curtailing any form of insecurity ahead of the 2023 election.
He noted that the training is strategically centered on Divisional heads due to their enormous responsibility of community policing as they closely related with people at the grassroot.
Peter said the aim of the capacity building is “to enhance the capacity of the Nigerian Police Force for effective crowd control and management within the broader context of public order management during elections.
“To promote the capacity and awareness of the NPF in the protection and preservation of human rights and dignity of Nigerians during and after the elections.”
He said the provision of adequate security remains a critical factor that determines the success or otherwise of any electoral process.
“These sessions would therefore enhance the capacity of the NPF in identification risk and threats and putting in place the appropriate response measures. Risk identification and assessment, gap in security measures, eternal and external threats, information protection as well as contingency planning.
“Acts of Sabotage and election disruption the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu presidential committee on the 2011 post election violence in Nigeria documented 943 dead persons, including 10 Youth Corp’s members; 838 injured; 626 arrested for participating in the killings carnage.
“Similarly, in the months leading up to the 2019 general elections, the trends of violence was clearly visible as most notable pre-election reports flagged the high risk of violence.” He stated.
He challenged the officers to take advantage of the training, noting that “whatever the police do before, during and after election has a far-reaching impact on the legitimacy and integrity of the process.”
AIG Austin Iwar, rtd, one of the training facilitator acknowledged that 2023 elections is going to be another lethmost test for police which there is a need for them to anticipate happenings enough. The whistle has already blown as the electioneering campaigns kick off.”
Declaring the workshop open, Plateau state Commissioner of Police, CP Bartholomew Onyeka stated that there is no better time for the interactive session than now.
The CP who was represented by DCP Fred Ekokotu, task participants to take advantage of the training and transmit same to their subordinate towards achieving violent free elections come 2023.
