War against crime: 443 New Constables graduate from Police College in Kwara, 10,000 nationwide
By Ahmed Ajikobi
In its effort to combat crime and criminalities in the state, the Kwara police college has graduated no fewer than 443 new constables on Thursday.
Speaking at the passing out parade, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, said the recruitment exercise represents another giant stride by the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, towards repositioning the Nigeria Police Force by addressing the lingering manpower gap in the Force which has been inhibiting optimal police service delivery in the country.
The inspector general of police who was represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 8 Kogi and Kwara Olakunle Asafa said that, “It is noted that after today’s event, all the graduating recruit constables will be deployed to complement officers on the forthcoming election security duties across the nation, in a bid to ensure a free, fair and credible electoral process.
“This event, which is taking place simultaneously in four premier colleges and police training schools across the country, wraps up six months of highly challenging rigorous, physical, and intellectual training activities, and it signifies the transition of the recruit’s mainstream professional policing duties with the right orientation to meet emerging security challenges within the dictates of the rule of law.
“It should also be noted that the recruitment exercise was spread over the 774 local government areas of the country with due regard to federal character considerations and in line with the directives of Mr. President,
“In the attainment of community policing goals, the recruits will all be posted back to their various local government areas to further entrench the policing strategy of the federal government towards addressing communal crimes in their respective areas of purview.”
He told the new police recruits that the bedrock of policing is discipline, adding that” much as you have a promising and brighter career ahead of you, how far you go in this career depends, to a great extent, on your character, discipline, and integrity.
“To the citizens of this great country, I assure you that a new Police, which is adequately imbibed with courage, good attitude and compassion, is being evolved with a renewed vigor to perform its statutory duties in the enforcement of law and order as well as protection of lives and properties. To sustain our common vision for an efficient Police Force, I call on all citizens to be law-abiding and parents to continue to encourage their children and wards to take interest in pursuing a career in the Nigeria Police Force as that remains the most veritable platform to contribute to the path of national service.
Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was represented at the event by his senior special assistant on Security, Alh Muyideen Aliyu, while the Baba Isale of Ilorin represented the Emir of Ilorin, Alh Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
The state commissioner of police, Paul Odama, enjoined the new officers to maintain a high level of discipline and shun corruption, and he further presented awards to outstanding graduands.
