The Kano State Police Command has completed a one-month intensive combat and weapon handling training for 200 police officers as part of efforts to strengthen operational capacity and improve service delivery across the state.
The officers passed out on Monday during a ceremony held at the No. 9 Police Mobile Force Squadron, Hotoro, Kano, where the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, said the training was aimed at equipping personnel with modern policing and tactical skills to tackle emerging security challenges.
Bakori, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Department of Finance and Administration, Audu Sabo, said the exercise was conducted in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to prioritise continuous capacity building for officers.
“For one month, 200 of our officers have undergone intensive training in combat readiness, weapon handling and modern policing ethics at No. 9 PMF, Hotoro, and No. 52 PMF, Challawa,” he said.
He noted that the participants received practical and theoretical training in weapon handling, tactical manoeuvres, intelligence-led policing, community policing, public relations and human rights.
“Capacity building is not an event; it is a process. It must be continuous if we must win the battle against crime and earn the trust of the people,” Bakori said.
The police commissioner urged the graduating officers to demonstrate professionalism and discipline in the discharge of their duties, stressing that the command would continue to organise similar training for more personnel.
“Our approach is simple: be hard on crime and soft on the people. We must remain combat-ready to confront criminals while respecting the rights of law-abiding citizens,” he added.
Earlier, the Commanding Officer of No. 9 Police Mobile Force Squadron, Hotoro, ACP Afeez Oyekan, said the participants were rigorously trained in modern weapon handling, principles of marksmanship, combat tactics and tactical manoeuvres.
He said the officers also underwent lectures on human rights, police-public relations, intelligence-led policing, modern crowd control techniques, community policing and the Force’s social media policy.
“A good police officer must be professionally mindful of his firearm at all times, exercise good judgment and discharge his duties with the fear of God,” Oyekan said.
He urged the officers to apply the knowledge acquired during the training by remaining professional, responsible and respectful of the rights of members of the public.
The ceremony featured combat demonstrations and the presentation of certificates and awards to outstanding participants who excelled in different categories, including shooting range, stripping and assembling of firearms, and overall performance.
Among the recipients were Corporal Aminu Ahmed, Police Constable Umar Idris, Corporal Nasiru Ubale and Police Constable Ismail Abubakar, among others.