An NGO,  Cleen Foundation, has organised a five-day training for Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Police Public Relations Officers (PPROs) on Election Security Management in Jos.

At the opening of the training on Monday, Mr Gad Peter,  Executive Director of the Foundation, said the training was part of its support to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) towards a peaceful 2023 general elections.

He said that with the rising spate of insecurity in the country, tackling election violence became very necessary.

Peter said  that participants for the training were drawn from states in the North-Central zone of the country.
”Nigeria is currently experiencing complex security crisis that warrants and even demands pre-election security mapping ahead of the general elections.

”As we prepare for the forthcoming elections, threats are imminent so we must put a proactive mitigation response plan on ground.

”For instance, strengthening capacity of police personnel and institutions on specific strategic areas bothering around public order and human right has become fundamental.

”This exercise is aimed at addressing citizens’ perception of the political class using security institutions as weapon of manipulation, repression and oppression before, during and after elections,” he said.

Peter said that the training aimed at building capacity of the personnel for effective crowd control and management within the border context of public order management during elections.

He added that it would improve on the capacity of the participants in protecting and preserving human rights and dignity of Nigerians.

”The provsion of adequate security remains a critical factor that determines the success or otherwise of any electoral process.

”This training will therefore enhance the capacity of the personnel in identifying risks and threats and putting in place appropriate response measures,” Peter added.

Declaring the training open, Mr Bartholomew Onyeka, the Commissioner of Police in Plateau, described the training as timely, towards a hitched free general elections  in 2023.

Onyeka,  represented by DCP Fred Ekokotu of the Intellignece Department of the command, called on the participants to be attentive and ensure knowledge gained was cascaded to others in their various commands.