The Inspector General of Police,  Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered Commissioners of Police in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), their supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police, and other Heads of Police Formations, to strengthen their leadership capacity and operational strategies in dealing with crimes associated with the end of the year in their Areas of Responsibilities.

The Inspector General, who addressed the Strategic Police Managers, today, December 13 December, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, said that the engagement is targeted at evaluating policing activities and performance in the year 2021, identifying potential security challenges and threats in the coming year, and outlining operational strategies that could be taken to mitigate the threats.

He charged the Senior Police Officers to brace up to the anticipated internal security challenges in the coming year 2022, observing that being the year preceding the general elections, there is a high possibility that the charged political activities could set the stage for increased criminal activities, especially politically and economically related crimes.

The IGP commended Police personnel across the country for their resilience, courage and loyalty to the Force and the country.

He observed that the new spirit of professionalism and patriotism had impacted positively on efforts at stabilizing internal security order, improving public safety, law and order, combatting crimes and criminality, arresting criminal elements and carrying out specialized national assignments as seen in the just concluded Anambra State Gubernatorial Elections.

He charged them to imbibe the virtues of professionalism, respect for rule of law as well as the rights of the citizens and warned against excessive and unjustifiable use of force on the citizenry.

Meanwhile, the police boss has ordered the immediate deployment of personnel of the Force Provost Unit, X-Squad and the Monitoring Unit to ensure that Police personnel deployed for security operations during the Yuletide season, particularly on major highways, carry out their duties in the most professional manner.

A statement by the spokesman of the Force Headquarters, Frank Mba said that the operatives from these specialized units are expected to provide immediate supervision and oversight on police personnel deployed to the highways, and bring to book those found operating in manners inconsistent with the rules of engagement of the NPF.

He quoted the Inspector General of having reassured the citizens and the nation of the unwavering determination of the Force to ensure a peaceful Christmas and New Year festivities.

He called for improved understanding, partnership and working relationship between the Police and the citizens, especially in the area of volunteering information to aid police capacity in securing the public space in the most pro-active manner during the yuletide season and in the coming year.

The Presidency has complained about the editorial published today, December 12, in a privately owned Daily Trust newspaper, captioned “Life Has Lost Its Value Under Buhari’s Nigeria.”

In a statement today reacting to the editorial, Senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said: “now is not the time for this sort of lurid political journalism.

“Now, our focus as Nigerians must be on coming together and ending the violence.”

Garba Shehu admitted that the growing instability and violence in the North of Nigeria and elsewhere is unacceptable.

“No one, not least the Presidency underestimates the seriousness of the situation. Everyday, the President holds the victims and their families in his thoughts and prayers.

“Above all, he wishes to reassure them – and all Nigerians – that tackling the scourge of banditry and terrorism remains this government’s first priority.”

The spokesman said that Nigeria is not unique in the challenges being encountered, adding that violence and terror have risen steadily across the entire African continent over the last decade.”

He referred to The Economist magazine, which he said recently wrote about “The Next Afghanistan,” and warned the global community of the horrifying security in the neighborhood, citing specifically the states of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

“So we understand the frustrations of the Daily Trust and Nigeria’s northern communities about the ongoing challenges of security, and the Buhari administration is no less worried.

“But it is only fair to say that Nigeria’s persistent and continued efforts to suppress that instability have seen results, with the terror group: Boko Haram among others reduced to a shell of its former self.

“Yet, now we Nigerians face a new threat: the worst global health crisis in living memory.

“Even Nigeria that proudly holds the mantle of Africa’s largest economy is not immune from the debilitating economic impact of COVID-19.

“The economic instability that the pandemic has wreaked has proven an effective recruitment tool for bandits and terrorists across the continent.

“Indeed, the Daily Trust has correctly identified the source of the violence as “an amalgam of many complex issues” such as poverty and unemployment.

“It is equally right to note that, in tackling the violence, force alone will not be enough. It is quite wrong, however, to suggest the problem of insecurity is intractable, and more wrong still to claim apathy on the part of the government.

“So what is the government doing?

“First, our military efforts have not let up. It is true that in the face of today’s growing number of threats from Boko Haram, kidnappers and IPOB to your run-of-the-mill bandits, our forces are stretched increasingly thin. But our dedicated soldiers are working around the clock to keep Nigerians safe.

“Second, alongside military force, this government is seeking to address the violence at its economic source. Massive infrastructure projects like the coastal rail and new train from the southern coast through the north-east to our neighbour Niger, aim to expand employment and opportunity across the country, bringing hope to our more remote and poorer regions where bandits and terrorists thrive.

“Third, even as the West continues to extricate itself from Africa militarily, we are lobbying our Western allies aggressively for partnership, investment and support in other areas, such as proscribing Boko Haram, bandits and IPOB as terrorist groups, which would severely dent their funding; for investment in trade and infrastructure, to help lessen economic instability; and to help with technical assistance, advanced weaponry, intelligence and ordinance.

“This will likely be small comfort to the families and loved ones of those already lost.

“But make no mistake: this is a battle we are fighting without let up. The Daily Trust’s suggestion that the President exchanges violence for the support he got electorally is beneath a publication that claims any kind of political neutrality or integrity.

“As President Buhari wrote recently of the terrorists in the UK paper, The Financial Times: “We will defeat them, one highway, one rail link – and one job – at a time.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked his fellow African leaders to unite and face numerous challenges, ranging from criminal terrorists to pandemic, that have overwhelmed the continent recently.

President Buhari, who spoke today, December 12, at the opening ceremony of the 60th Session of the ECOWAS Authority Heads of State and Government at the presidential villa, Abuja, expressed great worry that West Africa continues to suffer from various challenges, including socioeconomic, political, security and environmental fragilities, linked to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The challenges of the coronavirus and the catastrophic consequences posed on our socio-economic environment continues to torment us.

“The regional resilience, determination and resolution of working together in solidarity with each other assisted us greatly in lessoning the burden of the pandemic.”

The president said that the coming together by the leaders in Abuja is a clear demonstration of their commitment to the effective integration of the subregion.

“As a people, we aspire to create a borderless, peaceful, prosperous subregion where people have capacity to access and harness its resources through the creation of opportunities for sustainable development, job creation and environmental resolution.

“Our subregion continues to face economic, political, security and environmental fragilities linked to coronavirus pandemic

“Our democracy is being challenged in Mali and Guinea.

“Furthermore, threats are looming around – environmental degradation and climate change on our farming system.  We are facing a network of criminals including terrorism

“All of these challenges require our collective action to work in concert with each other to pragmatically address and provide our people better prospects in life

“These realties remind us of the need to continue to forge stronger solidarity to address the new challenges including this third wave of the pandemic and its omicron variant.”

He expressed delight that the countries’ centers for disease control are already working together to curtail the pandemic.