ABUJA – The Commissioner of Police, Community Policing, Force Headquarters, Mr Etop James, has assured Nigerians that the Nigerian Police Force is fully equipped and ready for hitch-free 2015 elections.
He told newsmen yesterday in Abuja that specific personnel had been trained for specific assignments in order to ensure smooth conduct of the exercise.
“The Nigeria Police are very ready; there is ongoing training and re-training and the officers that will be at various places are trained separately.
“For those that will be at the booth there is a general training and there is specific training for those at the polling stations.
“Those that will be ballot paper escorts are trained and it is ongoing.
“Just go about doing what the law says after voting, if you want to go back or sit down, you sit down.
“You should not go out of your way to attack any law enforcement agent or to question them on what they are sent to do.
“You don’t just go there and attack them because that is very common.
“And it depends on self-control, sometimes the officer loses it but we try to tell them no matter the provocation, you must keep it. So let us work as partners.”
The commissioner of police further explained that a national summit would soon be organised to engage stakeholders including the electorate, politicians and INEC officials on best practices during the elections.
He stressed the need for community policing to reduce pre and post-election crises.
According to him, community policing entails selected patrol officers assigned permanently to small areas or zones with delegated responsibilities.
He said the aim of patrol was to provide public reassurance such that citizens could feel free to seek police assistance.
“The present police management is committed to positive police reforms so that the relationship between the police and the community will improve thus, enhancing the practice of community policing.
“That is why the philosophy of community policing is being rolled out in all the states of the federation presently,” he said.