Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun said the police is in the process of producing 40,000 combat-ready officers in fight against rising tide of insecurity.
Egbetokun announced this at a meeting with the squadron, special protection and tactical commanders at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
While giving a lowdown of the elite squad, the IG said they would be charged with special operations bordering on fighting terrorism and big time criminals saying, “These officers will not perform routine police duties but will be housed and kept combat-ready at all times engaging in daily training in readiness for deployments to intercept and neutralise high-profile criminals and those terrorising our communities.
“They will be deployed to intervene rapidly and proactively in any situation necessary in their states of assignment.
“All tactical commanders will be involved in the process of identifying suitable candidates from within their respective units.
“These individuals should possess the necessary skills, agility, experience, character, and commitment to excel in the challenging and demanding environments they will encounter.
“The new special squad will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to combat evolving criminal activities, insurgency, and other security threats, especially the activities of non-state actors.
“We will henceforth be more proactive and be ready to take the fight to the criminals’ den.
“Furthermore, in order to optimise the efficiency of our resources, we shall carry out a re-evaluation of the responsibilities assigned to the PMF.”
He added that the officers that would constitute the squad will be drawn from those escorting VIPs.
According to him, “By relieving the PMF of VIP escort and guard duties, we can redirect their focus and efforts toward addressing critical security concerns that affect our communities at large.”
