Police Service Commission, PSC, has categorically stated that the Special Constabulary in Kano state, Northern Nigeria are not Policemen and are not recognised as such by the Commission and Government.
Gatekeepers News reports that the PSC noted that its attention has been drawn to the operations of the Special Constabulary especially the issue of a repentant criminal said to have been recruited into the organisation.
The Commission’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement however, noted 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.
The statement read, “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 added that it was aware that the Kano Special Constabulary has received adequate training and is working in their Local Government areas as required by law but under strict supervision of the State Police Command.
PSC noted that their engagement is obviously for visibility and to promote Sustainable peace, economic growth and development of the state.
The Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, said the PSC will continue to partner with the Police to ensure 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.
The former Inspector General of Police, 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.
