By Hosea Parah, Abuja
Dr. Solomon Arase, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission and retired Inspector General of Police, has acknowledged the challenging period faced by the Commission and the Nigeria Police Force. He emphasized the need for a scientific approach in combating the increasingly sophisticated nature of crime worldwide.
This was contained in a statement issued by Ikechukwu Ani Head, Press and Public Relations on Sunday. Dr. Arase recognized the extensive and demanding oversight responsibilities of the Commission, highlighting the necessity for proper training and equipping to ensure success in their assignments. He made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation from the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria.
The Chairman addressed the various complex crimes that pose a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, such as cyberbullying and criminal financial/banking attacks. He stressed the importance of both the Police Force and the Commission upgrading their capabilities to effectively tackle these emerging challenges and fulfill their constitutional mandates.
Dr. Arase emphasized the need for enhanced visibility of policing at the local level, particularly in Divisional centers that have been neglected, resulting in ungoverned spaces where non-state actors have taken control. He advocated for the continuous recruitment of police officers to populate communities, regain control of these ungoverned spaces, and restore security to lives and properties across the nation.
Furthermore, Dr. Arase expressed the Commission’s intention to collaborate with the Institute to combat the emerging menace of financial and other crimes in the country. He supported the idea of outsourcing skills that may be lacking within the system and pledged to involve Institute officials as resource persons in Police Colleges. This would ensure trainees receive exposure to cybercrime prevention and other complex crime prevention strategies at an early stage.
Dr. Gashinbaki, leading the Institute delegation, commended Dr. Arase for his exemplary record in the Nigeria Police Force, which has translated into his commendable work at the Commission.
He highlighted the Institute’s commitment to supporting capacity building in crime investigation and expressed their readiness to work alongside the Commission in fulfilling its responsibilities related to police recruitment, promotion, discipline, and investigation.