The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has charged Police Mobile Force squadron commanders to stay neutral during the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
The IGP who held a maiden meeting with Squadron commanders at the force headquarters, Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja noted that election security action plan would revolve around units of the Mobile Police Force.
According to him, “The decision to summon this meeting was informed by the need to create a forum for brainstorming on current internal security developments, reappraise the role of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), being the most strategic tactical and operational arm of the Force, review professional issues in relation to the activities of personnel of PMF and evolve a more potent action plan that will roll back the current security slide in the country.
“As you are aware, the Anambah State Gubernatorial Election will hold on6thof November, 2021. The election security action plan will, as usual, revolve around Units of the Mobile Police Force. The import of this is that the task of securing our democratic values and guaranteeing a safe, secure and credible electoral process in Anambra State will rest squarely and majorly on some of you, the Squadron Commanders here seated and some of your Units.
“Most of your operatives will be deployed to deter subversive elements that are planning to threaten the process, while others will be deployed to secure personnel and materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as other critical national infrastructure.
“While the detailed operational action plan in this regard will form a key part of our discourse during this conference, I must strongly warn you to ensure that you demonstrate high level of professionalism, strong supervisory capacity on your Units and the firmness and courage which are the traditional hallmarks of the Police Mobile Force.
“I charge you to cultivate the spirit of team work and inter-agency cooperation, knowing that you will operate side-by-side other sister security agencies and officials of INEC. Above all, you must remain apolitical while being ruthless with violent elements and ill-guided political thugs that may wish to test our common will to deliver a transparent and credible electoral outcome. I am confident that like other operations in which you have excelled, you will not let the Nigeria Police and, indeed, the nation down in this critical national assignment.”
Baba noted that the repositioning of the PMF is one of his police leadership agenda.
“The PMF under my leadership will in due course, be re-organized, adequately equipped, trained and re-oriented with the goal of re-situating it within its original concept. In furtherance to this, all the Squadron Commanders shall be leaving this Conference with new sets of operational assets, which have been approved for issuance with a view to sharpening your operational capacity.
“Plans are also underway to issue more weaponry and operational vehicles to enhance your operational mobility and combatability. Aside this, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of Operations has been tasked to commence the process of training and re-training of operatives of the PMF in order to strengthen your special operational capacity and exposing you to modern tactical and combat requirements.
“ This initiative will be structured to cover all officers and men across all the PMF Squadrons in the country. Thee Police Trust Fund and the Ministry of Police Affairs are supporting the Force in this regard.
“My dear Commanders, while I am pleased with your operational strides, I am also concerned about reports touching on unprofessional conducts by some operatives of the PMF across the country ass well as reports of illegal deployment of PMF personnel. Citizens of this country are worried about the illegalities of some bad eggs within the fold of PMF as well as the tendency for corruption by
Some others. These misconducts are direct consequences of supervisory ineptitude by some of you, the Squadron Commanders.
“Much as I am determined to motivate you to advance your mandate as the striking arm of the Force, let none of you be in doubt of my firm resolve to deal decisively with any Squadron Commander that lacks command capacity as well as those who are unwilling to key into our mission of reforming the PMF and repositioning the Force.
“Discipline, professionalism and operational excellence are the bedrocks of the PMF. Any personnel that is deficient in any of these hasno justification to remain withinthe PMF system as they are not only dangers to the Force, but to the nation. Accordingly, we shall not spare any PMF operative that continues to conduct himself or herself in manners that are not edifying of the Nigeria Police Force. Consequently, the AIG PMF has been directed to put machinery in motion to identify and rationalize such incorrigible elements out of the PMF.”
