Security challenges: Police up to task – Akinfenwa

Retired Commissioner  of  Police, Homicde Section, Alagbon Annex, Lagos, Dr. Funmilayo  Sybril  Akinfenwa,  has insisted that the Nigeria Police are one of the best in the world. The senior  lecturer, Department  of  Criminology and Security Studies,  Leed  University, Ibadan, said in Abuja: “Nigeria police are up to the task to confront security  challenges.

“The Nigeria Police management  has been training and re-training officers on how to conduct themselves properly. They  are applying professionalism and imbibing  community policing and encouraging officers to carry out their duties  professionally. Officers have been warned to shun corruption and illegal duties.

“IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s focus is on human rights, community policing, ethical conduct  and proportional use of reinforcing the force’s commitment to serving the public with integrity and respect. The commitment to building a more effective and accountable police force that enjoys the trust and confidence of the entire public.

“Officers are trained to work according to rules and regulations of the Police Act. Nigerian police are tackling armed robbery, kidnapping and cybercrime. The strategic leadership goal is deepening their intellectual capacity and knowledge, thereby exposing them to modern criminal investigation tools, and extant criminal law and procedures.

“This initiative is projected to situate  their functions within acceptable legal bounds, professional standard, ethical  and global best practices for delivering  criminal justice in a country as diverse, rule of law-guided and democratic as Nigeria.

“The police are focused on proactive initiatives designed to deny safe havens to criminal elements. The police role is enforcing accountability and transparency in practice, like stop-and-search, arrest, police custody and detention.  Officers are to adhere strictly to these guidelines, ensuring that individuals are not unduly detained or subjected to physical restraints without justifiable cause.

“It is essential to update the professional capacity of officers in line with global policing standard and address  skill gaps caused by updated or neglected procedure.”