The Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman has asked female officers to brace up as they will now be deployed to perform all roles originally reserved for their male counterparts in the Force
The IG who was in Cross River State on a visit, addressed officers and men at the state Police Command on Diamond Hill Calabar on Thursday.
He said the force has evolved much and that the female personnel have equally been trained in all aspects of police duties.
“Henceforth, in keeping with modern trends, all female personnel in the Nigeria Police Force should brace up as they are going to be posted to do all the traditional duties hitherto reserved for men.
“We shall post them to head critical crime areas as well as head such divisions and would also deploy them to arrest criminals”.
He disclosed that 10,000 new recruits were on training and would be deployed in such sensitive areas when they graduate.
He called on all Police Commands in the country to devise ways to combat what he described as new crimes.
He said banditry, cyber crimes and kidnapping are new crimes that old officers did not learn strategies to combat while at training colleges.
He disclosed that the force has already sent 50 personnel to training in different countries.
To assist the state command reduce its vehicular challenge, the IG directed the release of ten brand new Toyota vehicles next week.
“We are doing the very best to contain challenges prevalent in the command. Next week, your commissioner will take delivery of five vehicles and an additional five next month. We are taking action in refurbishing dilapidated infrastructure, new barracks will soon be built.
“We are emphasising on training and retraining and have sent 50 personnel abroad.”
The IG emphasised the importance of synergy and collaboration with sister security agencies to stem the tide of crimes.
Still responding to the state Commissioner of Police, Aminu Alhassan who drew attention to the threats posed by IPOB and Ambazonian insurgency in nearby Cameroon, the IG said more gunboats would be provided to help in the command patrol the maritime boundary check possible infiltration.
According to the commissioner, attempts to turn the state into a criminal den has been thwarted by his command.
