Matilda Omonaiye/
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu has explained why he had to deploy police dogs across Nigeria to secure railway stations.
According to Adamu, the initiative of deploying K9 assets of the Nigeria Police is within the context of Operation Puff Adder and it is planned to complement the existing security measures emplaced for the security and safety of passengers and critical infrastructure of the Nigeria Railway Corporation across the country.
“K9 are known to possess the extra-ordinary capacity for detection of Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs), narcotics and other illicit drugs, firearms and other prohibited items which criminals usually engage for the perfection of their criminal activities. The deployment of Police dogs is therefore meant for detection or prevention crimes along the railway corridors. Their brief shall be for patrols, surveillance, detection and apprehension of felons in and around railway facilities,” the IGP said at a ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday.
He noted that the deployment of special breed and exceptionally-trained police dogs for security duties is as old as human civilization, hence their utilization in combating crimes and sundry internal security threats in the 21st century cannot be over emphasized.
He added, “The Nigeria Police prides itself as having one of the most equipped, experienced, highly-trained, and functional K9 Section. They also have commendable antecedent of successful anti-crime, crowd control and civil disorder management operations in the country. Indeed, it is on record that the Nigeria Police Force Animal Branch has been instrumental to the training and development of similar branches for other security agencies in the country.
“By this event today, our plan is to maximize our unique K9 strength to complement other sections that have been deployed as part of the broad policing architecture which we recently emplaced towards addressing our internal security challenges. It will be recalled that prior to this time, about 1000 additional police personnel were deployed to the Nigeria Police Railway Command. This unprecedented deployment was designed to address the manpower gap of the Command and reposition them to address vulnerabilities, projected threats, and security challenges which the increasing human traffic and expanding assets of the Nigeria Railway Corporation may present.
“Just this morning, I watched the ‘Sunrise Daily’ Programme of Channels Television which focused on security of railway passengers and I was delighted to hear most of those interviewed confirming that indeed police security deployment has been significantly enhanced both around the railway facilities and in-coach. With today’s initiative, passengers, staff, and indeed, all the citizens of this country can further be re-assured of their security as they patronize the services of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
“I can also assure that all the assets of the Police shall continually be mobilized and deployed towards denying criminal elements of any space to operate in any location in the country. We, however, continually solicit the cooperation of all. We encourage all citizens to embrace the concept of ‘if you see something, say something’. Indeed, our appeal now is ‘if you suspect something, say something’. This is a civil obligation of all citizens and this is the most potent weapon towards collectively winning the war against elements bent on threatening our security.”
Adamu commended officers and men of the K9 Unit for their resolve and commitment in ensuring that the maximum capabilities of these dogs are harnessed for the safety of Nigeria.
“Always be assured that your welfare and that of your dogs will always be of priority to myself and the entire management team as you join this operation today. As you have always been, I expect you to be of good conduct and operate within strict professional ethics as you proceed to the respective Railways stations across the country in service of your Fatherland,” he said, as he further commended all police personnel currently on the Operation Puff Adder duty for their sacrifice, loyalty, dedication to duty and professionalism which have so far aided the Operation in achieving its goals of stabilizing the internal security order.
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