“Lack of training and capacity building programme has been the main problem of getting quality officers to discharge their duties properly in the service"
A former Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, has
lauded the federal government’s moves in forming the Special Weapons and
Tactics Team (SWAT) to replace the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).
Mr Ehindero told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos
on Thursday that the issue of regular training and retraining of the personnel
would also bring about the required change from the new outfit.
“I am more interested in training. Any group that you have
to bring in whatever name must be trained properly before they perform whatever
duty that is required of them.
“The society is getting enlightened and what is obtainable
some years ago is not what is obtainable now. So, you have to change with the
society by organising regular training.
“Lack of training and capacity building programme has been
the main problem of getting quality officers to discharge their duties properly
in the service,” he said.
Mr Ehindero said that SARS was supposed to be the teeth of
the police in terms of confronting robbers, adding that reforming them was
significant to achieve the initial objectives for creating them.
“SARS is not a bad outfit, it is just that we have bad
operators in the outfit.
“There is no organisation that does what we call quality
control more than the police. However, each year we will need to weed out the
bad eggs according to the extent of crime they committed,” he said.
The former police chief said that the government had done well for the police in reforming the Police Act which would take care of human rights and the conduct of policemen.
“The inadequacies in the force in terms of equipment,
welfare and building will be taken care of partially. I am sure that the Police
Trust Fund now will address the problem of training in the force,” he said.
Mr Ehindero, however, urged the youth to be a little
cautious and tactical with the way they were going about the protest.
“They should try to desist from creating unrest and disturbing people who are going about their respective businesses.
“They have made their point and I think they should wait on
the government to react to their demands.
“Fortunately, the government has reacted positively by scrapping SARS and their willingness to reform the police,” the retired IGP said. (NAN)
0 Comments