The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), on Thursday, received 443 new Constables into its operations after participating in the Passing Out Parade at the Police Training College, Ilorin, Kwara State.
They were received by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba, represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 8, AIG Ashafa Adekunle.
The new personnel is part of the 10,000 men expected to be recruited into the Force annually.
He said the recruitment was part of the government’s response to the security challenges in the country.
The IGP in his speech said that the passing out parade was under the year 2021 batch recruitment scheme of the Nigerian Police Force.
“This ceremony involves a total of 10,000 trainees, who commenced the training. This event is taking place simultaneously in four premier colleges and 12 police training schools across the country.
“This wraps up six months of highly challenging, rigorous, physical and intellectual training band it signifies the transition of the recruits into mainstream professional policing duties.
“They are with the right orientation to meet emerging security challenges within the dictates of the rule of law’’, he said.
Baba noted that the new personnel showed the commitment of the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Buhari, to reposition the NPF and address the manpower gap in the force.
“It is noted that after today’s event, all the graduating recruit constables will be deployed to complement officers on the forthcoming election security duties across the nation, to ensure a free, fair, and credible electoral process.
“It should also be noted that the recruitment exercise was spread over the 774 local government areas of the country, with due regard to federal character considerations’’, he said.
The police boss called on the new constables to be disciplined, and have good character and integrity if they must go far in the profession.
“I admonish you to resolve not to engage in any act unedifying of your good name that of your families, and indeed the Force as you launch your policing career today, Baba said.
Kwara State governor, AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq was represented at the event by his senior special assistant on Security, Alh Muyideen Aliyu, while the Baba Isale of Ilorin represented the Emir of Ilorin, Alh Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Paul Odama, enjoined the new officers to maintain a high level of discipline and shun corruption and he further presented awards to outstanding graduands.
The passing out parade included match past, parade review by the IGP’s representative, and giving of awards to some of the graduating personnel for performing excellently well in the training.
