BY ROSE EJEMBI, Makurdi
In a bid to re-align policing in Nigeria to current democratic norms, the Zone 4 Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force has commenced training of 96 officers and men of the force for the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Benue State.
The training would focus on the use of force and handling of firearms, care and custody of suspects, investigation techniques, cordon, search and seizure, management of scene of crime as well as community policing, human rights and the rule of law.
Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of the zone, Agboola Oshodi-Glover said the training was to entrench human rights based approaches in the police investigation activities with special focus on the operation of SARS.
“The Nigeria Police Force as a law enforcement agency and the gateway to the criminal justice system that has statutory mandate to protect lives, dignity and property of citizen is under legal obligation to operate within the principles of the rule of law and responsibility in the use of force and the prosecution of offenders.”
He said these principles, as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution would form the major basis for the topics for the thematic areas of study for the three-day SARS training.
Oshodi-Glover further noted that the SARS training was one among others already lined up for training of officers and men of the Police Force in the zone in line with the Force policy of enhancing the operational capacity of the officers through training and retraining with a view to bringing the Force to levels commensurate with international best practices.
Also Speaking, President, Nigeria Unite Against Terror (NUAT), Joe Odumakin who was represented by Director of Training, Gbemi Efunnuga commended the Nigeria Police for its efforts especially in the area of focusing on Human rights abuses.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama urged both the trainers and trainees to abide by the rules of he training for the benefit of themselves, the Nigeria Police Force and the citizenry.