•IGP Olukayode Egbetokun
Commanders of the newly launched Special Intervention Squad (SIS) by the Nigerian Police Force to curb kidnapping in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are currently undergoing a training program in Abuja.
The programme organised by the Nigerian Police Force and Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is to prepare the commanders for the challenges associated with their new responsibility of taking up the lead positions in combating the scourge of kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, terrorism and other evolving challenges of crime confronting our society.
A total of 38, officers said to have been diligently selected to be the precursors based on their competence, integrity, track record, demonstrated commitment to the cause of justice and suitability for the assignment are attending the program, reports Daily Sun.
Declaring the training open, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, while noting that the SIS, was established to confront the security situation that threatens the peace of the citizenry and restore law and order across the nation, said the initiative is pivotal to safeguarding the lives and property of all Nigerians while guaranteeing the supremacy of the state and the rule of law.
Speaking on the security situation in the country, the IGP, said “Without mincing words, our country, like many other parts of the globe, is experiencing security challenges arising from the activities of the criminal elements seeking to undermine the peace and security of our nation. This development demands instant and appropriate response from us as the lead agency in the internal security architecture of the country.
He said “The situation at hand has challenged our ingenuity such that beyond the conventional reactive response approach to crime management, we conceived the idea of the Special Intervention Squad, to serve as an elite unit of the Force, designed to anticipate, respond spontaneously and manage crisis situation.
The Squad was primarily established for the purpose of confronting every situation that threatens the peace of the citizenry and restore law and order across the nation. The initiative is pivotal to safeguarding the lives and property of all Nigerians while guaranteeing the supremacy of the state and the rule of law thus protecting the integrity of our nation.
The IGP said that, “With the conception of the SIS, mobilisation of officers and men, it is only logical that the men be given specialised training to enable them imbibe new skills and orientation, which will adequately prepare them for the task ahead.
“The Force in this drive found a willing and dependable ally in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), an agency of the American Government, which volunteered to train the officers of the SIS.
“A major leap towards achieving this was achieved with the formal signing, on Monday 18th of December, 2023, of the Memorandum of Understanding {MoU}, between the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of United States of America.
“The event today therefore is a major milestone towards the full operationalisation of the SIS across the length and breadth of our country.”
