‘Police will not recruit repentant terrorists, criminals into NPF’

 

 

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has declared that repentant terrorists and other former criminals would not be admitted into its ranks.

Isyaku Mohammed, deputy inspector-general of Police (DIG) in charge of the Department of Training and Development and Coordinating DIG for the North Central Geo-Political Zone, announced this during a stakeholders’ meeting with officers and personnel of the Kwara State Police Command, traditional rulers, religious leaders, transport unions, and other community stakeholders in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Mohammed urged community leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders not to recommend repentant criminals for recruitment into any security agency.

The DIG cautioned traditional rulers, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), and other community leaders against endorsing recommendation letters for individuals with criminal records, stressing that such persons should instead be identified and exposed to prevent them from infiltrating the nation’s security institutions.

“Traditional rulers and DPOs often sign recommendation letters for applicants. I don’t believe they should recommend anyone who has been involved in criminality simply because the person claims to have repented.

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“I had the privilege of serving in the North-East. The military, in its wisdom, accepted some deradicalised Boko Haram members, rehabilitated them and reintegrated them into society. During a town hall meeting I attended while serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) in Yobe State, community members were urged to accept these deradicalised individuals because they had repented.

“However, the community rejected the appeal outright. They insisted that such individuals should be relocated to communities where they were unknown.

“Their argument was simple, ‘How can someone who killed my parents return with empowerment packages while those whose lives and businesses were destroyed have received no support?’ It became a major subject of debate. Nevertheless, that was a Federal Government policy, and the police had no role in making that decision.

“What we can do is protect the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force by ensuring that such repentant criminals do not find their way into the Force. We are doing everything possible to prevent not only repentant criminals but also other persons of questionable character from joining the Nigeria Police.

“Therefore, we appeal to our stakeholders, community leaders and traditional rulers, do not endorse them. Identify them, expose them, and help us keep them out of the system. If they are recruited and trained, they will eventually be deployed to police your communities, and you will have to live with the consequences.”

The DIG disclosed that a joint border patrol operation would soon be inaugurated to strengthen security across Kwara State’s border communities.

According to him, Kwara shares boundaries with Ekiti, Oyo, Kogi and Niger States, as well as the Republic of Benin, making coordinated border security essential to tackling cross-border crimes.

“The joint border patrol will cover all border corridors in Kwara State to prevent criminal activities and deny criminals freedom of movement,” he said.

Mohammed explained that the Inspector-General of Police had directed all Deputy Inspectors-General to visit states within their respective zones to engage stakeholders, assess security situations firsthand, and identify operational challenges facing commands and personnel with a view to proffering lasting solutions.

He reiterated the importance of community policing, describing it as an effective crime prevention strategy that enables residents to take ownership of security within their communities.

“Community policing is a preventive security tool. It is a system where the community takes ownership of its security strategy,” he said, urging stakeholders to embrace the initiative.

The DIG further emphasised the need for timely intelligence sharing between the public and security agencies, just as he called for greater youth engagement through productive activities as a means of reducing crime and strengthening public safety.