From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
The Police Service Commission has waded into the controversy surrounding the recruitment of repentant thugs as Special Constabularies in Kano State, stressing that the Constabularies are not police officers and are not recognised as such by the Commission and the government.
A statement signed by the head, press and public relations of the Commission, Ikechukwu Ani on Thursday, however, acknowledged that ” Constabulary operations are covered and recognised by the Police Act and are readily useful and needed now that the nation is fighting to end the siege of criminals across the country.”
The statement explained that the Commission was in touch with the Kano State Police Command and had been briefed that the use of the Constabularies was to support the police in building a crime-free Kano State.
“It is necessary to state that the men and women recruited as Special Constabulary are posted to work in their localities where they will be in a better position to fish out the criminals terrorising the place” the statement said.
“Some of the repentant influential youths previously used in the past as political thugs and abandoned have realised that crime does not pay and have voluntarily offered themselves to assist in the fight for a crime-free state” the statement explained..
“The Commission is also aware that the Kano Special Constabularies have received adequate training and are working in their local government areas as required by law but under strict supervision of the State Police Command,” said the Commission.
“Their engagement is obviously for visibility and to promote Sustainable peace, economic growth and development of the state,” the statement said.
“The Commission in consultation with the Inspector General of Police will ensure that the uniform of the Constabularies are clearly differentiated from that of the Nigeria Police Force to avoid cases of identity crisis and also define their specific roles in the security architecture of the nation,” the statement concluded.