Abuja – The Nigerian Army will sustain its collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for efficient and effective service delivery, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has promised.
Buratai made the promise on Monday in Abuja when the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, paid him a courtesy visit at Army Headquarters.
He congratulated Idris on his appointment and assured him that the Army would work closely with him in order to succeed.
“Historically, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force derived their origin from the same lineage.
“It has been a historical coincidence so; the visit of IGP today is quite timely. This has really come to show closeness of the two organisations,’’ he said.
The COAS stressed the need for the two organisations to work together as a unifying force to address the security challenges facing the country.
He commended the I-G for coming up with the idea of joint operation between the two services.
According to Buratai the idea will enhance joint operations and strengthen national security if vigorously pursued.
“We should have representation at the State Command and Force Headquarters which is very vital coordination of our various securities.
“It is a welcome development and the Nigerian Army will join you at the joint operation centres; we even have officers that are ready to work with you and ensure that our activities are well coordinated,’’ he said.
Buratai noted that efforts’ being made by the army to dislodge Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East was progressing well.
“Just early this morning, the army was able to rescue 100 important personalities who the insurgents have abducted several months ago.
“The troops were performing well in spite of the challenges posed by the season.
“The terrain has been quite difficult to move about that area. But by and large, we have seen the determination and the professionalism of the troops operating over there,’’ Buratai said.
In his remarks, the acting I-G, Mr Ibrahim Idris, expressed the readiness of the police to collaborate with the army for effective and efficient service delivery.
“It is my pleasure to be here this afternoon. I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the maximum cooperation we have been receiving in the various theatres we have been operating in the country.
“ There is need for us to have joint vocation centre at the police headquarters. I want us to jointly work together in each police command of the six geopolitical zones of the country,’’ he said.
Idris expressed confidence that the vocation centre would serve as avenue of collaboration and dialogue between the two organisations and other sister agencies in the efforts to tackle security challenges facing the country.
“ I will like us to work in tandem with each other, especially in various theatres where we have security challenge in the countr,’’ he said
