2,411 pass out of Jos, Kaduna police colleges

• IGP pledges to reposition force
• Lalong launches Emblem, praises dead soldiers

The Evangelist
December 30, 2022

Four hundred and fifty-six police recruits, comprising of 400 males and 56 females, were at the Passing Out Parade ground of the Police Training School, Jos, Plateau State, for their graduation.
Cadets from Plateau and Taraba states were involved in the six-month, rigorous, physical and intellectual training in Jos.

No fewer than 1,955 police recruits successfully passed out of Kaduna Police College on Wednesday, after their training under the 2022 batch, which had 10,000 recruits nationwide.
The reviewing officer, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, said the event, which is holding simultaneously in four premier colleges and 12 police training schools across the country, wrapped up the rigorous training and signified the transition of recruits into mainstream professional policing duties with the right orientation to meet emerging security challenges within the dictates of the rule of law.

Represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mrs. Janet Agbede, who retired from the force same day, the IGP stated: “This ceremony represents another giant stride by the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari towards repositioning the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) by addressing the lingering manpower gap in the force, which has been inhibiting optimal service delivery in this country.

“Indeed, the Federal Government’s policy of recruiting ten thousand police constables yearly over three years shows the commitment of the President to bequeath our beloved country a reformed and well- positioned police force with renewed capacity and commitment to attain its internal security mandate.”

Baba told the graduands that they were entering a reformed Force that is experiencing an ethical rebirth, a force that is increasingly equipped, well-focused and properly oriented to take the war against crimes to the fortress of criminal elements that are bent on threatening the country’s shared values for peace, security and liberty.”

Speaking at the Kaduna ceremony, the IGP said all the graduating constables would be deployed to complement officers on election security duties across the country, to ensure a credible electoral process during the 2023 general elections.
Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, has launched the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day and Emblem Appeal Fund in the state, with a renewed commitment towards supporting the Nigerian Legion.

While launching the Emblem at the Banquet Hall of the New Government House, Jos, the governor said the solemn but important moment afforded the people the privilege to pay tribute to those who laid their lives to make the society safe.

Lalong said: “Let us always remember and not take for granted the fact that in all the security challenges we have witnessed, the gallant officers and men of various security outfits put their lives on the line to ensure that we live peacefully. Most times, the citizens are tempted to look only at the shortcomings of the armed forces without highlighting the successes they continue to record.”

A statement yesterday by his Director of Press and Publicity, Dr. Makut Macham, quoted Lalong as urging Nigerians to learn to salute the courage of the armed forces and their families for their sacrifices in ensuring that people sleep peacefully, despite the shortcomings of the security system.

According to him, without giving the soldiers due recognition and honour, their morale can easily dampen and the younger generation discouraged from making similar sacrifices, particularly now that patriotic men and women are needed to join the forces and assist Nigeria to overcome its security challenges.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division and Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Maj-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, commended the efforts by government and non-governmental bodies to take care of serving and retired officers and men of the armed forces.

Leader of the Nigerian Legion in Plateau, Col. Sati Yilwat (rtd), said one of the ways to ensure that the labour of heroes and heroines past did not go in vain is to support the veterans and their families.