The federal government yesterday. Asked Ukraine government to take it easy with Nigeria following the Kidnapping of its national, saying at “a higher level, they do also know that in any country such a thing can happen”.
“ They know and it is not targeted at Ukraine, it just happened that the criminals took advantage of them”, Caleb Olubolade, minister of Police Affairs said.
Speaking with State House Correspondents in Abuja, Olubolade said, “Criminality and crime related activity cannot be wiped out suddenly but so long we have an approach in terms of training , in terms of equiping our people to address this issue and practically look at how we can minimize it, then with time we will overcome it.
“ I have always believe that adequate training, equiping and morale boosting support we can give to our security agencies will help us address most of these problems. The answer can’t come overnight because as we improve in this areas, the criminals too will find other ways of doing it.
“But after a time and their kingpins are apprehended, then we will overcome that.
“By and large, what is needed to give confidence to investors is to secure our land and I do know that Mr President is concerned and he has been supporting the security agencies to ensure they are able to do their jobs”.
On providing Communication gadgets for security operatives, he said, “There are some projects that are already in the pipeline that will greatly enhance communication within the police. There are some archaic equipment which they use now that we have to do away with but everying boils down to funding and we cannot get funded unless we go through the budgetary system.
“But when there is an emergency, the President know where to take a peep. We know the image of the police has to change and we are doing everything possible to ensure that the police give service to Nigerians”.
On Police officers facing trial over the killing of Boko Haram kingpin, Olubolade said, “The service personnel know that there is regulation, there is trial in case of offences and nobody can change that. So, I don’t want a situation where they will feel that their morale will be low if certain people are tried for offences. It has always been the system within the services that if offences are committed, somebody must be tried and penalized if he is guilty.
“Of course, he will face a panel, nobody will just start punishing. If he is guilty, he will be penalized. So, nobody can stop that and we must strictly abide by it because it is rule within the service”.
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