- By Kamil Opeyemi
The Police Service Commission has explained why its Kano command has recruited some repentant criminals in the state into the state constabulary service.
In a statement by Ikechukwu Ani, spokesman of the Police Service Commission, said the Special Constabulary are not Police men and not recognised as such by the Commission and Government.
The statement however added that the Constabulary operations are covered and recognised by the Police Act and are readily useful and needed now that the nation is fighting to end the siege of criminals across the country.
News of the recruitment of some alleged hardened criminals into the state police had caused uproar with many condemning the alleged act especially in the face of the current insecurity in the country.
Of particular mention was Nasiru Abdullahi, popularly known as Chile Maidok, who was said to be a hardened criminal and had severally been declared wanted by the police over various crimes in the state.
The statement said, “The Commission is in touch with the Kano State Police Command and is aware that the use of the Constabulary is to support the Police in building a crime free Kano State.
“It is necessary to state that the men and women recruited as Special Constabulary are posted to work in their locality where they will be in a better position to fish out the criminals terrorising the place. Some of the repentant influential youths previously used in the past as political thugs and abandoned have realised that crime does not pay and have voluntarily offered themselves to assist fight for a crime free state.
“The Commission is also aware that the Kano Special Constabulary has received adequate training and are working in their Local Government areas as required by law but under strict supervision of the State Police Command.
“Their engagement is obviously for visibility and to promote Sustainable peace, economic growth and development of the state.”
The statement added that the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, former Inspector General of Police said the Commission will continue to partner with the Police to ensure an improved security of lives and property in the country.
“Dr. Arase noted that security is not only a government responsibility but that of every Nigerian and called for a citizen based approach to security in Nigeria. He however disclosed that the Commission in consultation with the Inspector General of Police will ensure that the uniform of the Constabularies are clearly differentiated from that of the Nigeria Police Force to avoid cases of identity crisis and also define their specific roles in the security architecture of the nation,”