The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Thursday said that the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers was a major challenge to the Nigeria Police Force.
Idris made the statement when members of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
He said that kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, terrorism, militancy, economic sabotage and religious extremism were other security challenges confronting the police.
He said that the police had handled 108 kidnapping cases in June, 111 in July, 84 in August and 77 in September.
He noted that kidnapping had become a trend in the country where young persons were actively participating.
The I-G said that the existing 300,000 police workforce was inadequate to effectively police the country.
He said that the country was far behind the UN standard of one policeman to 400 persons.
Idris said that the Nigeria police needed more than the 10,000 men being recruited to bridge the manpower gap.
“We need to increase the strength of the rank and file.
“We also need more than the 10,000 policemen being recruited, but it is a gradual process,“he said.
He said that inadequate funding and manpower had been the bane of the police, adding that adequate funding was needed for the police to effectively discharge its mandate.
On welfare of policemen, Idris said that the police wanted to exit the present pension arrangement to enable it support its men after service.
He said that the management had written to President Muhammadu Buhari to allow police retirees to have access to health insurance scheme after retirement.
Idris said that if adequate funds were allocated to the police, it would perform optimally.
Sen. Abu Ibrahim, Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, said the committee would consider the request of the police force. (NAN)