The high command of the Nigeria Police Force has announced the deployment of 2,000 police personnel to war ravaged North-eastern Nigeria to assist the Nigerian Military in the fight against Boko haram and its affiliates.
Fear of Mutiny Grips Nigeria Army, Impunity, Indiscipline Threaten Fight Against Boko haram
The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, announced the deployment of the additional police personnel to the North East to fight Boko Haram terrorists under the Operation Lafiya Dole of the Nigerian Army.
The IGP’s announcement was revealed in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jimoh Moshood on Sunday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Mr. Jimoh explained that the deployment of the police personnel to the theatre of conflict was for purely military duties and to boost the personnel already on ground in Borno State.
The deployed personnel include men of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Counter Terrorism Units (CTU), as well as those of the Force and the Sniffer Dog Sections.
Moshood stated that the new deployment was consistent with Section 4 of the Police Act and Regulations.
“Specifies the general duties of the Nigeria Police Force as follows: The police shall be employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged, and shall perform such military duties within or outside Nigeria as may be required of them by or under the authority of this or any other Act.
The deployment is also to support the strength of the military to defeat the Boko Haram insurgency.
Before now, the Nigeria Police Force has on ground 47 PMF units (63 X 47 = 2961) in Borno State in addition to the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron in Borno State. Twenty-six units (63 X 26 = 1638) on ground in Yobe State in addition to the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron in Yobe State.
Eighteen units (63 X 18 = 1134) on ground in Adamawa State in addition to the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron in Adamawa State.”
Moshood said further that the CTU department had the highest number of deployed personnel with 1, 250 trained men on ground while the Police Anti-Bomb Squad has about 300 personnel with over 100 sniffer dogs working with the military in the fight against Insurgency. He added;
“It is of significant note that the Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel, Counter Terrorism Units (CTU), Anti-Bomb Squad (EOD), Sniffer Dog Sections, the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and conventional Police personnel have being fighting along with the military in the front line against Boko Haram insurgency and also providing security for restoration of law and order in the North East, security for all the liberated towns and villages in the North East, escort of foreign and local humanitarian workers and relief materials, protection of IDP camps and security of public and private infrastructures.”
The Force spokesman further revealed that Police Air-wing Surveillance Helicopters and crews had also been deployed to support military operations in the North east while assuring Nigerians that the police was fully committed to the fight against terrorism and would cooperate fully with the Nigerian Military to end the Boko haram menace.