By Linus Aleke
The Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, on Wednesday pledged to recruit ex-militants into the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), to fill the quota of the South-South zone.
This pledge followed a request to that effect, from the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Maj Gen Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd).
The Special Adviser Media to the Interim administrator, Mr Thomas Peretu, in a statement said, the interim administrator
solicited the support of the Police High Command in the recruitment of ex-agitators to its rank and file and officers’ Corp.
He revealed that the Interim Administrator made the request when he paid a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba Usman at the Police Headquarters in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the IGP expressed disappointment at the low turnout of potential recruits from the region at recruitment exercises conducted in the past years.
The quota of the South-South region, he said, was rarely filled despite efforts to encourage the enlistment of young men from the region.
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Alkali Baba Usman assured the IA that the Police are ready to partner with the PAP in the recruitment of officers, especially at the grassroots.
He said the Police have put in place structures for better emoluments and career advancement of personnel.
IGP, however, stressed that the Police will assist the PAP in the area of criminal investigation when such cases are brought to its attention.
He said that infractions in the agency must not be swept under the carpet, adding that the element of punishment in law enforcement will be brought into force to avoid the recurrence of criminal acts in the organisation.
The Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Maj Gen Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd), revealed that the PAP has over the years trained a lot of youths from the Niger Delta region who would fit into the manpower needs of the Police.
The Interim administrator also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Police High Command for providing security services at its offices and facilities in Abuja and across the Niger Delta region.
