Abuja Shootings: Police Need Modern Security Training – PGI

A non-governmental, not-for-profit organization, Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI), has called for more funding and modern security training for the police in the wake of the shooting dead of seven policemen and a youth corps member in Abuja.

National coordinator of PGI, Ms. Esther Uzoma, a lawyer, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, that the heinous killing of the policemen while on duty was not only sad, but calls for advanced training for security personnel in the face of emerging threats.

“It is about time that there is a new strategy to combat emerging threats against security personnel especially the police. There is little doubt the police require better funding so that they can properly send their men and officers for modern security training and are better equipped.

“What the Abuja shooting shows is that the deceased officers were not on bullet proof vests and on alert. But with training in modern policing, the casualty will not be this high,” Uzoma said.

According to the human rights activist, there was the need for Nigerians to give support to the police, but also insisted that the force should work towards winning the confidence of the people.

She further expressed sadness at the death of Miss Linda Igwetu, a youth corps member that was killed a day to her passing-out of the National Youth Service Corps in Abuja by a policeman.

Uzoma said the death of Miss Igwetu also speaks to the fact that policemen are in need of training and retraining to correctly assess security threats and how to respond.

While describing the death of Miss Igwetu as tragic, she commended the police authorities for not shielding the errant officer by his dismissal and arraignment.

“You know, Nigerians need to support the police in crime fighting and general maintenance of law and order. We are all desirous of safety and this can be achieved by cooperating with law enforcements. But it is not a one-way traffic. The police has a lot to do to win the confidence of Nigerians like the #EndSars campaign has shown. Nigerians distrust the police a lot and this should not be case,” the PGI coordinator explained.