The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Inspector-General of Police

  • Doctor petitions President, IGP over plans to truncate criminal cases

    An Enugu based medical practitioner has petitioned the Inspector General of Police over what he claimed as an attempt by some influential persons to truncate two ongoing criminal mattesr against two persons alleged to have broken into his house.

    The medical practitioner, Dr. Okam Izuchukwu also sent the petition to President Muhammadu Buhari; Assistant Inspector General of Police, zone 9 Umuahia; Attorneys General of the Federation and Anambra state; Chairman, Police Service Commission and the Anambra state Police Commissioner.

    Okam is alleging that there was an attempt by the Criminal Investigation Department of (CID) of Anambra state to frustrate the ongoing criminal cases between the Commissioner of Police and two others.

    In charge number MNJ/28c/2016  the accused persons were charged with alleged conspiracy, felony and stealing which are punishable under section 495(a) of the criminal code cap 36 Vil. II, Section 378(a) of the criminal code cap 36 VOl.II and section 353(12) of the criminal code cap 36 vol. II, all revised laws of Anambra state 1991 as amended.

    In the second charge, the accused persons were slammed with 5 counts of alleged conspiracy, willful damage, threat to life, forceful entry and breach of peace.

    They pleaded not guilty in all the counts at the various courts in Abagana, Njikoka local council of Enugu state.

    But Izuchukwu in his petitionstates: “I humbly wish to bring to your notice of the clandestine move by the state Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to frustrate criminal proceedings of breaking and entry at night time and breach of peaceat magistrates court 1 and 111 which had been going on since March .”

    He states in the petition that there have been pressure on the police prosecuting officer by influential persons of his community to withdraw the charges against the accused persons and return the the case file to the police legal adviser attached to SCID, Benjamin Onwumekayi just three days to the next adjourned hearing.

    He alleged: “This is a matter that has been going on before the magistrate court 1 and 111 Abagana and in fact that the magistrate court 1 has acknowledged that it is a case of breaking and entry at night based on the plethora of evidences before the presiding magistrate and has fixed the matter for bench ruling.

    “The matter was thoroughly investigated by the Area Command Awka and they established a prima facie case against the accused persons and the subsequently charged the matter to magistrate court Abagana for hearing and has been on trial since March 2016.”

    Izuchukwu pleaded to the Inspector General of police and others to “use your good offices to thoroughly investigate the matter in all honesty and urgency that it deserves and presumably call Benjamin Onwumekayi of State Criminal Investigation Department to order and charge him to conduct himself in a professional manner.”

  • ‎PSC promotes 4,542 senior officers, others

    ‎PSC promotes 4,542 senior officers, others

    The Police Service Service Commission (PSC),  has approved the promotion of 4,542 senior police Officers to their next rank.

    The Commission in a statement in Abuja yesterday by it’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, also approved special promotion for 16 officers based on their exceptional  performance and dedication to duty on the recommendation of the Inspector General of Police.

    Two other officers were also promoted based on their gallantry act while 188 others were placed on acting appointment on their next rank.

    The commission noted that they were promoted between the month of May and June 2016.

    The break down of the promotions are as follows; “7 from Commissioners of Police (CP) to Assistant Inspector General (AIG), 6 from Deputy Commissioner (DC) to  CPs, 20 from Assistant Commissioner (AC) to Deputy Commissioner (DC), 8 from Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to AC, and 107 from Superintendent of Police to CSP.

    “Others are 1431 from Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to SP, 1252 from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to DSP and 1711 from Inspector to ASP.

    “These promotions and appointments have been communicated to the Inspector General of Police for implementation”, it stated.

    The Chairman of the Commission, Mike Okiro, urged  the affected officers to reciprocate government gesture by rededictating themselves to the service of the nation.

    He enjoined them to ensure that they are guided by the approved rules and regulations of the Force adding that they should operate with the fear of God.

    Dr. Okiro said the Commission would continue to ensure that promotion of police men is regular to serve as a tonic for effective and efficient service.

    He also noted that the Commission will continue to evolve guidelines and programmes to improve efficiency in the Force.

  • Another judge kidnapped in Kogi, orderly killed

    Another judge kidnapped in Kogi, orderly killed

    Barely one year after a judge of the Kogi State High Court, Justice Samuel Obayomi was kidnapped and his police orderly killed, a judge of the Customary Court of Appeal in the state, Mr. Isaq Momoh Jimoh Usman has been Kidnapped by suspected gunmen.

    His police orderly was reportedly killed during the incident which occurred along the Itakpe – Kuroko road Sunday evening while they were returning to Lokoja.

    The judge was said to have travelled to his village over the weekend and was returning to Lokoja when the suspected gunmen stopped his car along the Okene – Itakpe bye pass in Okehi local government.

    It was learnt that the suspected kidnappers mowed down the police orderly immediately while the driver of the judge received bullet wounds, before their victim was taken to unknown destination.

    A source said that the late police orderly made to prevent the kidnappers from abducteding the judge when he was shot by one of the abductors, and his service pistol taken away.

    The remains of late police orderly said the source, was deposited at the morgue in an undisclosed hospital, and the driver who was said to have received several gun shots is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Lokoja.

    Confirming the incident, the information officer, Kogi State Ministry Justice , Mr. Saqeeb Saeed, said that the Customary Court of Appeal judge was kidnapped along Okene – Kuroko bye pass on Sunday evening.

    Efforts made to confirm the killing of the police orderly proved abortive as calls made to the Kogi Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wllly Aya was not responded to.

    Similarly, it was gathered that two yet-to-be identified women coming from Abuja were abducted along the Obajana – Okene road last friday

    It would be recalled that a forthnight ago, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase deployed a detachment of Special Anti-robbery Squad from Abuja, while apatrol helicopter was stationed in Lokoja to combat the menace of kidnappers in Kogi State.

    However, barely one week after the federal SARS operatives returned to their base, activities of the abductors appeared to have spiked in Kogi State again.

  • ACF to Avengers: Don’t invite another civil war

    ACF to Avengers: Don’t invite another civil war

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Friday warned the Niger-Delta Avengers (NDA) to desist from its  ‘madness’ of breaking pipelines.

    ACF daubed the wanton sabotage of the nation’s economic progress as an invitation to another civil war which the country cannot afford.

    ACF Chairman and former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie in a telephone interview with The  Nation said, the several attacks carried out by the Avengers were unjustifiable, as necessary machinery to develop the region has been put in place by the Federal Government.

    He said: “There is the Ministry of Niger-Delta; they have Niger-Delta Development Company and they have amnesty intervention and money was being passed through all these agencies. So, why didn’t they develop their areas.

    “Why are they asking for more? They were in government and certain projects were diverted there, including the fund for the dredging of River Niger, what else do they want?

    “Why didn’t they do all these during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration?

    “So, I believe they are doing it deliberately. Look at Biafra too. Are they doing it to make the country difficult for this government to rule?

    “Now, that they are even refusing dialogue, do they want confrontation? There has been confrontation in this country before. Do we want a repeat? We have had one before and I believe no country can afford a civil war twice.

    “So, Niger-Delta Avengers should give peace a chance. If they want a particular thing, they should come out and mention it, then Federal Government will consider it in its own merit. So, they should stop calling for another war,” Coomassie stated.

  • Fighting Piracy Will Improve Economy – Gbajabiamila

    Fighting Piracy Will Improve Economy – Gbajabiamila

    The Leader of House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has expressed the commitment of the House against piracy in the country.

    Gbajabiamila spoke  when the stakeholders from the entertainment and creative arts industry paid him a courtesy visit in his office on yesterday in Abuja.

    A statement issued by his Research and Media Assistant, Olanrewaju Smart , Gbajabiamila decried the growing level of impunity among pirates and their collaborators within the entertainment industry.

    His words: “The impunity is obvious when you see pirates selling their illegal products in public . We would look at the laws so as to criminalize buying and selling pirated films to keep even the buyers in check and provide stiffer punishment for owners of buildings used for this illicit act. It takes two people to commit the offense if there is no willing buyer the illicit business won’t thrive”

    “If can address counterfeit money, drugs and goods, we will look into our intellectual property laws and possibly a collaboration with state governments is necessary, while the federal government deals with issue of copyright the states as well can deal with censorship of films sold within their jurisdiction.

    “We would amend relevant laws to empower the Inspector General of Police and his men in fighting piracy. The House is aware that the entertainment industry is vital to the economic diversification policy of this government and the industry can be assured of the support of the legislature .”

    Leader of the delegation and Chairman, Optical Disc Replicators of Nigeria, Cyprian Orakpo, had earlier lamented the rising case of piracy in the country and its negative impact on the entertainment industry.

    He said: “We want the National Assembly to join in curtailing piracy and chase piracy away, with the National Assembly we can achieve 80% success in fight against piracy, it disturbing that the energy of film makers is sold out for peanut and interestingly some elites in the country spend a lot of Millions of Naira to invest in production of pirated movies”, Orakpo said .

    “There was a time President Buhari made a pronouncement that his government will fight piracy and suddenly immediately after that pronouncement, original copies started selling faster and the Pirates left the market but thereafter the pirates went back to business unhindered, we want the government to be more proactive because the country itself is losing lots of revenue.

    “Moving makers borrowed up to 1billion Naira from government through the Bank of Industry and could not meet up with the repayment due to piracy. Whilst the economy of the country is in need of help, piracy thrives. At Alaba Market in Lagos pirates operate in buildings and shops closed during business hours of the day and only opened to business at night.”

    “The investors in piracy provide protection fund of up to 14million Naira monthly to some gullible market leaders to get soft landing, even the regulator Nigeria Copyright Commission went to Alaba market to fight pirates but their officials were beaten and the vehicle burnt by pirates who even promised to replace the burnt vehicle on the condition that they would never return to Alaba again,  this is worrisome in a country where there are laws” , Orakpo alleged.

    Members of the delegation included Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism and Film Maker, Desmond Elliot; Foremost Actor, Segun Arinze; Film Maker, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen; National President, Motion Picture Distributors, Igwe Gabosky.

     

  • Kidnapping: IGP deploy chopper, mobile units to Kogi

    Kidnapping: IGP deploy chopper, mobile units to Kogi

    The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase has deployed a helicopter, 35 Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squads and four detachments of mobile policemen to Kogi State to flush out kidnappers and other hoodlums that have been operating in the state.

    The exercise which commenced last Sunday witnessed arrest of some suspected kidnappers while other suspects were allegedly killed in their various hideouts during gun battles with the special force agents.

    The state Police Commissioner, Usman Yakubu while presenting the helicopter and the supporting units to the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello at government house yesterday noted that on behalf of the state governor, his office approached the Inspector General of Police, on the need to beef up the security following frequent kidnapping of people in the state.

    He said that the IGP graciously approved his request as he gave directive that one helicopter should be stationed in Lokoja the state capital for urgent security operation

    He assured the governor that since the arrival of the team, they have arrested some suspected kidnappers from their camps across the state adding that they will continue to bombard their hide out until the state was free from the criminals’ claw.

    “With this helicopter, we can easily track down either kidnappers or robbers operating in the state. The area view gives us full details of the suspected criminal while operating” he said.

    The governor in his remark thanked the Inspector General of Police for his prompt respond stressing that he will do everything he could to assist them.

    He said he administration will bring to book criminals who thought they have gain freedom for questioning about their past criminal activities in the state.

    Governor Bello assured the Police Commissioner of his full support noting that he will give them maximum support that will boost their moral

    The governor disclosed that 12 operational vehicles were donated to the law enforcement agencies in the state to ‎help combat crimes.

    He charged them to step up action by embarking on aggressive manhunt of criminals in the state who have constituted themselves to threat to life, peace and security through kidnapping and cultism.

    The governor equally charged the community leaders in the state to close ranks with one another by being vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the law enforcement agencies in their areas.

  • Enugu killings: We are working hard to track down attackers – Arase

    Enugu killings: We are working hard to track down attackers – Arase

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, said the Police were working hard to unravel the true identities of herdsmen killing innocent Nigerians in parts of the country.

    Arase stated this in Jos, Plateau, on Friday while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after delivering a paper at a Public Lecture at the University of Jos.

    He said the police had made some arrests in connection with the Nimbo killings in Enugu, adding that investigation had been intensified to unravel the identity of the assailants.

    He added that the police were determined to devise ways to end the bloodletting in the country.

    “I was in Enugu and the Commissioner of Police has briefed me that arrests have been made, and from the interrogation, we should be able to situate their identities.

    “We should be able to establish whether they are herdsmen or mercenaries who are coming to destabilise our way of life,’’ Arase said.

    He explained that the recent ban on sale of petrol in jerry cans did not affect those that needed the product for their generators.

    “It is not targeted at people carrying out their legitimate business; for instance, if you need it to power your generator, we will not harass you.

    “It is targeted at people who are hoarding and selling,’’ he said, adding that the ban had been amended to “reflect the true intent of what we are doing’’.

    Earlier in his paper entitled “Police and Public Partnership in Prevention and Control of Violent Crimes and Conflicts in Nigeria’’, Arase restated that the police must work with the public to achieve their mandate.

    According to him, several reforms have been initiated to entrench cordial relationship between the police and the public.

    In his remarks, Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Hayward Mafuyai, commended the IG for the lecture, describing it as thought-provoking.

    Mafuyai said the lecture was to educate the university community and the public on some pertinent issues on policing and crime prevention.

    He expressed confidence that the public had benefited from security tips offered by the police boss.

  • Why Police cannot protect all Nigerians

    Why Police cannot protect all Nigerians

    The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has said that the current number of Policemen in Nigeria is far too inadequate to provided security to all Nigerians coupled with poor funding of the force.
    According to the IG, the size of the Nigerian Police currently put at 305,000 policemen and women is not enough to guarantee the security of all segments of Nigeria.
    The Police Force and other security agencies in the country have come under severe criticism from members of the public over recent spate of attacks and killings of innocent citizens by herdsmen across the country with particular reference to the invasion of Agatu people of Benue state by suspected herdsmen and that of Enugu state.
    The IG, while delivering a public lecture on the topic, “Police and Public Partnership in prevention and control of violent crime and conflicts in Nigeria” at the MultiPurpose Hall of University of Jos on Friday, said the current numbers of policemen and inadequate funding accounts for the inefficiency of the police and its inability to be everywhere in the country.
    According to IG Arase, “The organizational structure of the Force consists of the Force Headquarters, 12 zonal commands, and 37 State commands including the Federal Capital Territory. Nigeria Police Force’s staff strength by 31st December 2015 was 305,000. This is inclusive of 1,331 Cadets currently on training at the Police Academy, Kano as well as specialist branches and civilian support staff.
    “Female officers in the Force constituted 30,854 (9.47%), while there are 127 area commands; 1,130 police divisions; 1,579 police stations, 2,165 police posts, and 1,591 village police posts (NPF Annual Report 2013: 137).
    Speaker further, IG Arase said: “The work of the police in any society is a very difficult, complex and dangerous vocation. The expectations of members of the public in Nigeria are many and varied and exceed the resources and support given to the police. Failures on the part of the police are easily observed and widely reported and condemned while achievements of the police are rarely recognized, applauded and rewarded.
    “Police are in constant contact with dangerous persons and in dangerous situations. In spite of the inherent hostile policing environment and sundry challenges, the Nigeria Police has remained steadfast to its responsibility of guaranteeing the safety of the lives and property of the citizens even at the risk of their own lives.
    “Between January 2014 – December, 2015 a total of 278 police officers paid the supreme sacrifice in the discharge of their statutory Mandate in relation to enhancement of community peace and security, while 194 others sustained varying degree of injuries. Similarly, between January – April 2016, we have lost a total of 72 Police personnel with 78 others injured in the line of internal security duties. Cases of killing of police personnel have increased since 2009 due to terrorist attacks by Boko Haram.
    “Policing in Nigeria is particularly difficult because of several inadequacies. Many scholars and government police reform committees in the country have identified several factors that inhibit police efficiency. Some of the identified problems are:
    Inadequate logistic and resources (especially transportation, telecommunication, arms and ammunition, accommodation, etc.) for police services, Inadequate personnel with training, skill and orientation required for policing a country with complex security challenges,  Inadequate resources for effective law enforcement, intelligence gathering, criminal investigation and prosecution.
    “Other challenges include lack of appropriate police stations, offices, facilities and accommodation, lack of modern forensic laboratory and other technological aid to law enforcement, inappropriate use of arms and ammunitions, absence of reliable and comprehensive criminal database and poor conditions of service, including low remuneration and pension benefits.
    “The challenges notwithstanding, Citizens also have a responsibility towards the police. The police will be ineffective if the citizens constantly disrespect, distrust, assault, insult and antagonize the police. The Constitution, in chapter 2 obliged citizens to assist law enforcement agencies as civic responsibility. Unfortunately, most citizens are either unaware of this obligation or chose to ignore it.
    Arase suggested that, “In order to enhance police efficiency, develop and sustain effective police-public partnership, citizens and communities should appreciate the duties and powers of the police and avoid criticizing them just of the inconvenience arising from law enforcement intended to guarantee public peace and safety and promote the rights and liberties of others.
    “We expect the public to have respect for legitimate authority and laws, parents, religious, traditional and educational institutions should inculcate in children and youth respect for legitimate authorities and laws at all levels of society without shying away from holding those in authority accountable for their actions, decisions and conduct.

  • Herdsmen’s killings: Buhari gives Chief of Army Staff, IGP matching order

    Herdsmen’s killings: Buhari gives Chief of Army Staff, IGP matching order

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Abayomi Olonishakin and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase to take immediate steps to secure communities under attack by herdsmen.
    The President also ordered Olonishakin and Arase to go after groups terrorizing innocent Nigerians in communities and villages.
    The President gave the matching order at the presentation of the book, “Who will Love my Country” written by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in Abuja.
    President Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, warned that his government will no longer allow the attacks to continue.
    He specifically condemned the attacks said to have been carried out by Fulani herdsmen in Uzo-Uwani local government of Enugu State which claimed many lives on Sunday.
    He said, “Let me start by condemning in strongest terms the attacks by herdsmen in Enugu State on Monday.  I deeply sympathize with those who lost their lives as well as those who lost their property.
    “I have directed the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector – General of Police to secure all communities under attacks by herdsmen and to go after the groups terrorising innocent people all over the country. This government will not allow these attacks to continue.”
    On the book, Buhari said that the author saw the need for attitudinal change for the purpose of fighting corruption and impunity and of course the need for Nigerians to love their country.
    He noted that “the author demonstrated in the book that Nigerians can only get the Nigeria of their dreams if they make bold efforts to put the nation’s interest above their individual interest.”
    He said, “We should start with individual attitude of change,  if we change our ways, the society will change for the better.
     “The author urged all tiers of government to undertake programmes and policies that will enhance the living standards of the people and ensure their happiness.
    “The 2016 budget is designed to bring our people out of poverty, enhance their living standards and bring smiles to their faces. The N500billion social intervention fund was designed to among others create jobs for 500, 000 unemployed graduates, provide loans for one million Nigerians including market men and women as well as artisans to start up their business.
    “It also includes feeding of 4.5million students in schools. Nigerians can only have and live in the country of their dreams by shunning corruption and desist from converting public property for personal usage or divert public funds to their private pockets.
    “I commend Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, for investing his time and energy to write the book which is a wake up call and thought provoking.”
    Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) who chaired the event said that from the title of the book, it is easy to determine that Ekweremadu has set out on a journey of self discovery.
    Gen. Gowon said, “It is a journey that is hinged on patriotism. I will want to believe that the motivation to write this book, derives in that part from the circumstances of our nation’s contemporary history. In itself this could be likened to bad times in which new life cannot be brought forward.
    “Many years back we fought a war to remain united, indivisible nation, this was because we believe and still believe that what bounds us is far greater than what divides us.
    “There is no denying the fact that Nigeria is stronger together and that the future remains very bright. Let us continue to move together as one. Nigeria has a great potential to become great, but it is left for each and every one of us to do our best to ensure and hasten the process.
    “Who will Love My Country?  The truth is no one but you and I. The foreigner cannot love our country the way we will love it. Neither can you love other country more than you will like your own.
    “We shall overcome all challenges if the leadership is committed to truly serve the people, and avoid corruption which I believe that the current leadership will tackle.
    “Definitely not insurgency or Fulani herdsmen’s menace will divide us because with the help of God and cooperation of the citizenry and the gallant security forces, we shall soon conquer.”
    Senator Ekweremadu in his speech asked Nigerians to show more love for the country by rising above tribe, ethnic, religious and political persuasions, with a view to subordinate all the aforementioned interests, to the overriding interest of the country.
    He also called on Nigerian leaders to govern effectively and use power wisely, saying that was the only way to safeguard the citizens’ interest.
    He noted that to love Nigeria, would entail Nigerians to critically revise and reexamine their attitudes,  values, and how they treat one another, which “demands of us some sacrifice.”
    He asked: “Are we going to bequeath to our children a banner stained by corruption, bad governance, ineffective leadership, ethnicity, slacking moral values, decadence, mediocrity, and sloth? God forbid!”
    He said Nigeria needed to return to the path of progress and unity charted by the founding fathers.
    He said: “If you are on a journey and you find out that you are travelling the wrong road, the right thing to do is to turn back and take the right path.
    “We must be ready to surrender our perceived narrow advantages to the general good. We must let go, for unless you release the man you are holding to the ground, you would not also be able to move an inch. Now is the time to offer one another a hand of comradeship and together we can move to the Promised Land.”
    He reiterated the fact that he wrote the book, not as the Deputy President of the Senate, nor as a card carrying member of any political party, but as a patriotic Nigerian, who was concerned about Nigeria’s future.
    He added, “I lay no claims to having the solutions to Nigeria’s problems; I simply want to challenge and inspire Nigerians to rise above ethnic, partisan and selfish interests and focus more on how to build a better country for us and our children.”
    Ekweremadu, further charged Nigerian Leaders to “show fidelity to democratic imperatives of accountability and transparency, respect the laws of the land and respect the rights and liberties of citizens.
    “Nobody can save or help Nigeria but Nigerians. As Timi Dakolo rightly pointed out in his thought-provoking song, Great Nation, ‘We are all we have’. That is the message of this book.  There are no problems Nigerians cannot solve if we act in good faith, guided by the nation’s best interest.
    At the event, where a minute silence, at the behest of Ekweremadu, was observed in honour of those who were killed in Uzo Uwani in Enugu State as well as other parts of the country, the Deputy President of the Senate said “the sad incident further reinforces the need for this book and the ideas espoused in the book”.
    “The primary responsibility of government is the security of lives and properties of the citizens. We must rethink our security system to serve us better”, he declared.
    The book presentation had in attendance a retinue of serving and former governors, ministers, party leaders, federal lawmakers, across political divides.
    It also recorded a high turnout of members of the academia, diplomatic corps, and the civil society.
  • FG assures police of adequate funding

    FG assures police of adequate funding

    The Federal Government on Friday promised to address the challenges of inadequate funding, training and other challenges facing the Nigeria Police Force.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the promise at the inaugural annual Inspector-General of Police’s Strategic Police Management Conference in Abuja.

    Osinbajo was represented at the conference by Dr Yomi Dipeolu, his Special Adviser on Economic Matters, which has “Custodial Violence and Strategic Police Management in Nigeria” as its theme.

    He told the police that “in view of the importance of your role in maintaining law and order, we will address the challenges of adequate funding, training and other challenges that you face.”

    On custodial violence, the vice president attributed the delay in the trial of cases to the attitude of police toward confessional statements.

    He said “it is my view that the current way in which the police take confessional statements is the reason or one of the main causes in delay of trial.”

    He noted that in some cases, the confessional statements do more harm than good to the case of the prosecution.

    He urged the police to take advantage of the new provisions in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to record voluntary confessional statements on video or take it in the presence of a legal counsel of the suspect.

    Osinbajo urged the police commanding officers to monitor the behaviour of officers in the field and at the station as this would determine the cooperation of the public.

    Earlier, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said that the police needed the support of Nigerians to discharge its constitutional roles.

    He said that the police must be rebuilt to inspire confidence in every citizen.

    Malami added that the present administration was committed to ensuring that the police became more humane and efficient institution in the country.

    He urged police officers to desist from violating the rights of citizens and improve on their capacity.

    In a remark, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, said there was a manpower gap at the strategic policing level in the country.

    He said there was a need to initiate sustainable training and capacity building to bridge the gap and prepare the force for future challenges.

    Arase noted that the police was collaborating with local and international experts to institute a training intervention and capacity building annually.

    He urged officers to embrace opportunities to sharpen their intellectual and professional skills.

    “Let me emphasise that the future of the Nigeria Police rests not necessarily on the acquisition of weaponry, but on requisite policing knowledge,” he added.