IGP BABA DECLARE OPEN 3-DAY CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING FOR POLICE PROs IN NIGERIA SAYS, A POLICE PRO MUST BE ‘JACK OF ALL TRADE, MASTER OF ALL’ OFFICER

By Oki Samson

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc yesterday declared open a three-day intensive capacity building workshop for Police Public Relations Officers across all Commands and other Formations of the Nigeria Police Force.

Themed ‘Crime Scene Management and Conclusive Criminal Investigations - The Role of Police Spokespersons’, IGP Baba noted that the workshop ‘seeks to develop robust forensic awareness and knowledge for our Spokespersons.

This in itself flows from contemporary public relations practice which identifies Police spokespersons across the world as one of the first responders to crime scenes.’

He added: ‘This course also seeks to equip the participants with skills necessary for effective descriptive, analytical and strategic communication touching on criminal investigations and procedure.

This in turn will enable them acquire relevant skills to give appropriate responses to citizens and media enquiries into matter of forensic and evidential nature connected to ongoing criminal investigations.’

‘I have no doubt that the 3-days workshop would, amongst other benefits, impact Police Spokespersons positively, particularly in the areas of Strategic Communication and Crime Scene Management.

In addition, participants of this course must be reminded that, to succeed as Police Image Makers, they must be versatile and have deep theoretical and practical knowledge of all aspects of policing, covering administration, operations, investigations, forensics, amongst others.

Therefore, the quest for resourcefulness, remains an integral part of the objective of this course’, the IGP assured.

The capacity development workshop which is organized in partnership with the Nigeria - German Development Cooperation (GIZ) is expected to hold in two batches – the first one currently holding in Lagos and the other to hold in Abuja - for the purpose of positive intellectual impact and also in compliance with the COVID-19 prevention regulations.

Speaking during the opening session yesterday, the Head of Component, GIZ Nigeria, Gertjan de Gruijter appreciated the Inspector-General of Police and the men and officers of the Nigeria Police for the focus on capacity development of Police personnel across all ranks.

Mr. Gruijter remarked: ‘We appreciate the NPF for initiating this process.

Thank you very much for this.

We want to expand knowledge. We hope to initiate a process for more and more people to know.’

While addressing newsmen on the sidelines of the opening session, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc added ‘I am saying that training and retraining is the second thing that we require after manpower.

The PRO department is a place where officers should be versatile in the issue of administration, investigation, operation, and whatever a police officer does.’

‘The PRO must be Jack of all trade and master of all.

We are trying to train them in response to scene of crime which requires a lot of professional tactics and skills because there are issues of evidence involved.

You need to preserve evidence and the scene itself in terms of having forensic analysis.

So we are developing these skills in trying to respond to members of the public in trying to give details of what has happened and at the same time not jeopardizing investigation’.

In his short remarks, the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Emeka Mba expressed his gratitude to the IGP for being physically present at the opening ceremony.

‘On behalf of the Police PROs across the Federation and our development partners, GIZ, I warmly welcome the Inspector General of Police to this very important event which herald the opening ceremony of this 3-day capacity building for Police PROs across the Federation.’

‘We are particularly grateful to the Inspector-General of Police for finding time out of his zero time to be here in person.

Your personal attendance and presence at this event means a lot to us.

It is an act of honour and uncommon respect which shows an exemplary mentor providing leadership to the led. It also shows the priority you accord to issues of training and capacity development of your men.’

The opening ceremony was attended by many dignitaries including the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, AIG Johnson Kokumo; Assistant Inspector General of Police, Police Cooperative, AIG Adamu Usman; Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Hakeem Odumosu; Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan; and other Senior Officers.

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