John Adams, Minna
The Niger state government has expressed its solidarity with the discredited Nigerian Police, saying that the government stands with the Police force as it goes through its trial period as a result of the #EndSARS Protests.
The state government however said it is in absolute support of the Police reform and a better welfare for the Police to enable them discharge their professional duties without molesting the innocent citizens.
The Chief Of Staff to the government house, Minna, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe who led a ten man state government delegation to the Police headquarters in Minna on Friday to Registrar its sympathy with the Police force as a result of the nationwide #EndSARS protests which claimed the lives of both the Men of the force and some Nigerians, said “we are here to identify with you at this trying period”.
Alhaji Balarabe said the morale of the police is currently low as a result of the nationwide condemnation due to the activities of the disbandment Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) and therefore needs some words of encouragement, adding that “we should not throw the bad water with baby away”.
The state government said emphatically that it condemned in strong term, any act of brutality against every Nigerian whether civilians or Men in uniform, “Niger state stands with the Nigeria Police. We support the reform of Nigerian Police in their quest for professionalism, better police welfare and better policy.
“This does not mean we support SARS because as a state, we know that SARS no longer exist, they have been disbanded but what we are saying is that we support the police. We know there are bad eggs in the force, that does not mean that the entire Police force is bad.
“We are against the brutality of any kind, be it from the police or the people, we are against brutality and violence of any kind but we support the Police in what they are doing to secure the peace in the state.
“We are therefore here to show solidarity with you, we are here to encourage you in this trying time of our nation history. We must stand with the Police especially with the security challenges in the state”.
While commending the Nigerian Police in its fight against armed bandits in parts of the state, Balarabe assured that the state government will continue to support the Police to enable it perform it role of protecting lives and property of the people.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mallam Adamu Usman who received the delegation thanked the government for standing with the Police at this critical time, saying that the solidarity visit will serve as a moral boost to the force.
He said that the moral boosting visit will no doubt spur the Police to continue to do its best in the protection of lives and property in the state, especially in the fight against armed bandits and other form of criminalities.