By KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja
Inspector -General of Police, Hafiz Abubakar Ringim disclosed yesterday that Nigeria Police will continue to honour national commitments to international peacekeeping operations noting that despite internal security challenges that require more personnel of the force, foreign peacekeeping exercises, provided the platform for practical experiences for officers and men of the Police force.

Speaking while commissioning contingent owned equipment for United Nations Mission in Darfur, the IG said “Let me assure you that even though the country has security challenges, the world as we can see is also facing challenges and this peace support exercise will definitely give the officers, men and women the necessary working experience”.

On how the Police force was able to source funds to procure amoured personnel carriers, patrol vans, medical containers, and other equipment worth almost a billion naira for UNAMID operation, the IG said, “there is a revolving loan. It is paid for with this loan. It is not from the Police budget and so, there is no question of whether the Police have money or not”.

“Any way, the Police cannot afford not to be involved in peacekeeping exercises now because the Nigeria police is the most sought after police force for peacekeeping. If I must tell you now, there are two or three countries that have come to Nigeria to look at our training facilities and learn how we form our units and take cue from what we have done. We are in the process of training some units for other country’s Police forces in Africa ”.

On the expectations from the UN, he said, “We expect good recognition, appreciation from the international community as well as great working experience for our men and women that partake in these exercises.

“The equipment include 5 armoured personnel carriers, 33 patrol vehicles, troop carriers and sewage vehicles, two forklifts, 16 Containers with assorted camp and personnel sustenance-bedding materials, kitchen utensils, sporting equipment, office equipment, refrigerated containers and water treatment plant, level 2 clinical drugs to last 6 months and fighting equipment.”