BY RUTH TENE NATSA JUST BACK FROM SOMALIA
That the Nigeria Police Force continues to be celebrated as one of the best and most professional Police formations in Africa and indeed across the globe is no longer news. Their current activities at the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), is another proof, as witnessed by Forefront News Special Correspondent, Ruth Tene Natsa, during a week-long mission tour of ATMIS headquarters in Mogadishu, Somalia.
The professionalism of the force in other climes is one that continues to negate the unpopular opinions held at home, as several missions have continued to speak to the high professionalism and efficiency of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
The Nigerian Police Force Unit (NPFU), which is the 11th contingent sent to support the ATMIS in the training of Somali Police in Peacekeeping, community policing, station management, and the use of ICT in investigation techniques among others, has a total of 160 officers, including 25 females.
Aside from being a professional selection of officers judged to be working within the mandate of the ATMIS and the Nigeria Police Force, the officers have been celebrated as being a good reflection of Nigeria as the big brother in Africa.
In the words of ATMIS, Police Commissioner (PC), Hillary Sao Kanu, A Sierra Leonean, while speaking on the efforts of the Force in combating the Al-Shabaab forces in Mogadishu, Somalia, said; “Recalling the efforts of the NPFU in Sierra Leone, Nigeria was the first African Troop that was deployed and they did a lot to save us. They sacrificed, they shed blood and because of their intervention, Sierra Leone was saved from the hands of those brutal killers”
“Here in Mogadishu, they are doing the same thing, supporting the work of the individual Police Officers (IPOs) and the Somali Police. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Law Courts, and the Ministry of Justice, we have the Nigerian and Ugandan Force Police Units (FPUs) deployed there, protecting the infrastructure.
“They have been doing that day and night, round the clock, providing support and escorting Humanitarian officers, materials, and logistics. I can say the support of the NFPU and the work Nigeria is doing here cannot be overemphasized”.
The Sierra Leone Police Commissioner maintained that while training police, it was a big deal for a government to release a contingent of its officers to support another country.
In her words; “So, I really appreciate the Nigerian government and Police for sending their vigilant officers to support Somalia at this challenging time of their history. I want to say we are having a good output from these officers and they are really maintaining their professionalism and showing they are coming from the great African Nation, Nigeria.”
Speaking on their performance so far, the contingent commander, NFPU-11 personnel, SP Ibrahim Mohammed, said no casualty had been recorded by the team, since their arrival to the mission, on July 13, 2022.
He said; “We have discharged our work in the mission area in accordance with the mandate and procedures of ATMIS, diligently and with all commitment in line with the Acting Inspector General of Police mandate mission.
“There are lots of strategies, combat formations and responses in case of any eventualities. So, we are always vigilant, even in our camps and that is why some of our officers are already out and even our parameter fencing within the camp is fortified. And I can say all this has to do with the training we had received from our home country. We are always vigilant and alert and so far so good, God has been good to us.
“Prior to our arrival, we were given pre-deployment training on the high expectations obtainable here in Mogadishu, Somalia, and part of those training assisted us in combatting most of our operational/security threats here in Mogadishu.
Parts of our mandates are the protection of ATMIS officials and its installations, protection of individual police officers, VIP escorts, Checkpoint duties, Cordon and Search as well as carrying out guard duties at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Justice Ministry respectively, all here in Mogadishu.
“We have been able to carry on checkpoint duties, cordon, search, and also show them how we carry VIP escorts, and they have been picking up, and this joint patrol is still ongoing and we will continue to establish that,” he enthused.
Noting that there were operational limitations which could be challenging, he said that the ATMIS has been able to bring them together and they carry out different trainings to avoid any form of friction between the police and military in the mission area.
He further said; “We also continue to engage with the locals as part of their mandates as well as build their capacities to boost their confidence and the relationship between the Nigerian mission and other members remained cordial despite our differences in modus operandi”.
Mohammed also said that the Nigerian government had always supported their mission with prompt deliveries of their equipment on request adding that their welfare is paramount.
Speaking on behalf of the Individual Police Officers, Nigerian Contingent Commander, DSP Ilevbare Victor, said the various units provided specific training and engagement to the Somali Police.
In his words; “When you come to a mission like this, you get used to the facilities and equipment, such things that may be lacking back home. The ATMIS normally provides all that we need to take care of ourselves and to accomplish the mission. Those things really facilitate our job.
Accordingly, CITS/Database Advisor to Somali Police Force (SPF), IP. Haruna Isaiah said as part of his activities include the Joint ATMIS-Somali Police Force review to establish capability gaps in specialized areas, of institutional, and individual police capabilities, training, and operational preparedness in South West State (Baidoa), and Lower Jubaland State (Kismayo).
Isaiah said; “Among other activities, we are also involved in the vetting, screening, and selection of recruits in Lower Jubaland State (Kismayo), preparation and delivery of 13 capacity building workshops among them is the recently completed applications of computers in policing (Kismayo). “We are also involved in the implementation of an automated asset management system in Mogadishu, drafting and presentation of Information, Communication, and Technology standard operating procedure (SOP) for Somali Police Force to the Somalia police force communications director as well as assist in the reform, restructure development Coordinator in the preparation of the weekly, monthly, and annual work plans/Reports among others.
Speaking along the same line, the Inspector and Control Team Leader, DSP Murtala Ibrahim, said the team has zero tolerance for any form of sexual exploitation or abuses
According to him; “In case, you are a mentor, RRD Adviser, Civil Engineer or Medical Adviser, in the course of interaction with either Somali Police or even member of the ATMIS Military components, you should not, you are not allowed to engage in any forms of sexual exploitation or abuses”.
Women were not left out of the struggle as Acting Coordinator, Training, ATMIS, ASP Adijat Oseni shares the role of her team with Forefront News saying; “We have engaged in several SPFs, training them on station management duty, traffic management, community Policing, code of conduct, penal code, investigation techniques amongst others”.
Similarly, SP Comfort Edem Tidwok, a professional Nurse, said; “Ever since we arrived, we are 25, so, far we have had no challenges as the women have been carried along on all activities embarked upon by the contingent. We are deployed alongside the men on guard duties. So, we participate in all duties without discrimination”.
While so much has been heard and said about the NPFU, there is no doubt that the police are a reflection of what the government and the people of Nigeria offer. It therefore remains paramount that the government and leadership of the Force must go above board in providing training, equipment, and the political will to create a professional body that is not only praised abroad but, also at home. After all, charity, according to the old cliché, begins at home.
