Police has done well despite odds, minister

The Federal Government on Wednesday declared that the Police has recorded tremendous achievements despite the seemingly intractable internal security challenges besetting the country.

Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammadu Dingyadi made the declaration while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the virtual cabinet meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister, who presented an account of his stewardship from August 2019, said the police in the country recorded many successes in the course of carrying out its constituted duties under his leadership.

“Some of the achievements we recorded in internal security management include 1 126 suspects of murder or culpable homicide cases were arrested, 3307 armed robbery suspects were arrested and 2352 kidnapping suspects were also arrested.

“2744 suspected cultists were arrested, 2869 assorted firearms were recovered, 20,375 assorted calibres of ammunition were also recovered, 1835 stolen vehicles were recovered and 1661 victims of kidnapping were rescued,” he said.

The Minister said within the period under review, the re-established Ministry offered requisite policy direction, leading to the attainment of the Nigerian governments policing vision.

“In the past one year or so, the Ministry of Police Affairs under my leadership, has offered the policy direction that has aided the federal government’s policing vision. This has occasioned the following key achievements in the re-positioning drive of the Nigeria Police Force; one, enactment of Nigeria Police Trust Fund by the President, which we have for long been waiting for.

“Courtesy of the President’s commitment of the President that we have been able to put the trust fund on the ground. You are aware, the purpose of this trust fund is to generate revenue from various sources like the federation account; 0.005 percent on companies’ income tax and grants, contributions and other interventions from well to do individuals as well as national and international organisations.

“The purpose of this money is to assist us in addressing the well-known decay of the Police infrastructure in the country. We will also be in a position to acquire modern-day technology and equipment that will assist us in fighting crime.”

Dangyadi further said President Muhammadu Buhari has assisted the Force to deploy the use of cutting-edge technology like smart surveillance vehicles, armoured personnel carriers and anti-riot water cannons among others, in fighting kidnapping, armed banditry and other crimes in the society.