Nigerian police lose 389 officers to fight against insurgency in 11 years
Story from Saleh INUWA, Kano
At least 389 personnel had been lost by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency from 2011 to date.
Borno State Commissioner of Police Abdu Umar made the disclosure recently during the inauguration of the newly constructed Police Station and barracks at Beneshiek, headquarters of Kaga Local Government Area of the state.
He said that over 24 police barracks and 30 stations were razed or destroyed, while several pieces of fighting equipment were carted away or destroyed by the terrorists.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba-Alkali inaugurated the edifice as part of his working visit to the state.
Umar said: “It will be recalled that at the height of the insurgency, precisely between 2011 and today, over 30 Police Stations/Formations and 24 police barracks were burnt or destroyed by the insurgents.
“No fewer than 389 policemen lost their lives while 450 policemen were injured and several crime-fighting equipments were carted away or burnt.
“The losses suffered by the Police Command in the state attracted numerous interventions amongst which we are witnessing one of such interventions today,” he noted.
He commended the IGP for his interventions towards providing a conducive working environment and bringing the service of the police closer to the people, adding that the command would ensure proper utilization of the facilities for maximum results.
He also lauded the state government for its support to the police, adding that the government reconstructed some of the vandalized police stations across the state.
The Commissioner further commended donors and development organizations for their contributions towards rebuilding destroyed police structures and other facilities in the state.
He listed the organizations to include the Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative, Victim Support Fund (VSF), Nigeria Police Trust Fund, North-East Development Commission (NEDC), North-East Regional Initiative (NERI), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In his remarks, Baba-Alkali reiterated his commitment to the improved welfare of the police and tasked them with good maintenance culture.
He thanked the state government for its sustained support for the police and urged the people to embrace community policing by supporting the police with credible information on suspicious persons and movements in their localities.
The IGP said the recently recruited 10,000 constabularies had been deployed to their respective states to promote community policing.
While urging politicians to play the game according to the rules in the 2023 general elections, Baba-Alkali advised political parties and candidates to adhere to security advice and regulations for hitch-free electioneering campaigns.
“We (police) are preparing, training and equipping ourselves to see election come and go free, fair and credible,” he said.
Governor Babagana Zulum applauded the IGP for his commitment towards addressing challenges confronting the Force, adding that the gesture was key to the sustainable growth of the Nigeria Police Force.
The governor said his administration accorded priority to the construction and rehabilitation of police stations and barracks to fast-track restoration of civil authorities at the grassroots.
“It remains relevant to my administration’s ongoing reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement programme”.
While appreciating the Police and other security agencies for their efforts towards peace restoration, Zulum lauded the synergy among security agencies and urged them to sustain the tempo.
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