‘Military lacks training on evidence gathering, Prosecution’, PSC Chair’ urges enhanced police role in counter-terrorism
Abuja, Nigeria – Solomon Arase, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), has raised concerns about the effectiveness of military personnel deployed in areas plagued by terrorism, particularly in the North East region.
Arase, a former Inspector-General of Police, emphasized that these military officers lack the necessary training and knowledge to gather evidence against criminals, contributing to the ongoing challenges posed by terrorist activities.
Arase also expressed reservations about the practice of releasing arrested bandits without proper profiling, as many of them return to criminal activities, further exacerbating the security situation in the region.
In a statement issued by the PSC’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, Arase called for a shift in the approach to counter-terrorism efforts, suggesting that the police take a more prominent role in the fight against terrorism and other crimes.
He argued that police officers are trained to secure crime scenes, gather evidence, and prosecute criminals, which differs from the standard operating procedures for the military.
Arase asserted, “The police are properly trained for internal security, and leading the battle will curb the activities of the terrorists in the North East. More convictions of these criminals in the North East would serve as a deterrent to others and eventually reduce the spate of crime and criminality in the region.”
He also highlighted a significant issue with the counter-insurgency mission in Nigeria: a lack of inter-agency collaboration and intelligence sharing among security agencies. Arase pointed out that the conviction rate of less than five percent is disproportionate to the number of arrests made and sends the wrong message regarding law enforcement efforts.
Prior to Arase’s comments, the police advisor of the Lake Chad Basin Support Framework from the United Kingdom High Commission in Nigeria, Elizabeth Macleod, discussed her role in Maiduguri, Borno State, aimed at assisting the Nigeria Police in addressing insecurity in the state.
The project, funded by the United Kingdom High Commission and implemented by Adam Smith International, seeks to enhance security efforts in the region.
Arase expressed the PSC’s willingness to collaborate with the Support Framework and extend the benefits of their work to officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
He also confirmed that the Police Recruitment Board would soon be inaugurated, indicating the readiness of the commission to commence the recruitment process in line with established modalities.
Arase emphasized the need for greater unity between the commission and the police to enhance national security.
