Heightened Insecurity: Gaidam urges police to adopt new strategies for victory
Story from Ibraheem EL-TAFSEER
Concerned by the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, the Minister of Police Affairs, called upon the Nigeria Police Force to adopt a fresh strategy emphasising proactivity and aggression to combat the adversaries of peace in the nation.
He pledged that the government is committed to modernising the police force to align with the evolving landscape and technologies.
This would involve enhancing the capabilities of police personnel with cutting-edge equipment and advanced training programs.
Furthermore, Gaidam stressed the importance of forging partnerships with international organisations and friendly nations to tap into their expertise and experiences for the benefit of the officers.
The directive from Gaidam was revealed in a statement released over the weekend by Bolaji Kazeem, Deputy Director of the Press and Public Relations Unit at the Ministry of Police Affairs.
The call to action came during an official visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, led by Gaidam and the Minister of State, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.
He said the police should no longer wait for the enemy to strike, but instead, take the fight to their very doorstep, advising that “we must seek out their hideouts, disrupt their operations, and dismantle their networks piece by piece.”
“I stand before you today not just as a minister, but as a fellow warrior in the battle against terrorism and banditry that threatens our beloved nation. We are facing a formidable enemy, one that thrives in darkness and preys on fear and uncertainty.
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“But I come to you with a message of hope and determination, a message that together, we can overcome these challenges and emerge victorious,” he stressed.
The minister noted that the defensive approach has emboldened the enemies and allowed them to grow stronger, adding that “it is time to change the narrative, to shift the balance of power in our favour.”
“By being proactive, and taking the fight to the hideouts of the terrorists and bandits, we can weaken them, disrupt their plans, and ultimately defeat them,” he reiterated.
Gaidam, however, acknowledged that the task would not be easy and requires courage, sacrifice, and unwavering determination.
The minister assured that their welfare and professional development are of paramount importance to the government and recognised the need to address the various challenges faced daily, including inadequate infrastructure, insufficient equipment, and limited resources.
In her remarks, the Minister of State, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim disclosed the ministry’s plan to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to create an improved welfare, training, and supportive environment for professional growth.
She, therefore, urged the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun to promote gender equality and facilitate the inclusion of female police officers in the top management of the force as well as effective implementation of a safe school environment policy.
In his welcome address, Egbetokun thanked the ministers for the commendation which he said would serve as motivation to the officers and rank and file of the Force to serve the country better.
He assured them of the readiness of the Force Headquarters to work with the ministry and support efforts put in place to enable the police to get better deals such as improving welfare, modern equipment, and reform of the Force.
