Kayode Egbetokun, the Acting Inspector General of Police, has unveiled intentions to create a dedicated Special Intervention Squad aimed at addressing security challenges across the nation.
Egbetokun revealed this during a visit by the police force management team to Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State at the Government House on a Saturday. He sought support from the Kano State government to ensure the success of this initiative, with Kano serving as one of the initial states for implementation.
“Your Excellency, I want to inform you that the present police management has decided to set up a squad called the Special Intervention Squad to intervene quickly in a crisis.
“Where there is a crisis or violent crime in Nigeria we have a dedicated squad that can easily be deployed to take care of those challenges,” he said.
Egbetokun emphasized that the significance of the new squad cannot be overstated, underlining that its effectiveness hinges on the extent of cooperation and support extended by the Kano State government to the police.
“We will equip the squad with well-trained personnel and well-remunerated to meet the overwhelming security challenges.
“The special squad will be specially trained, we will specially equip them, with modern working facilities. We will kit them properly and we will remunerate them specially. They will be so motivated to do their job.
“I want to appeal for the cooperation and support of Your Excellency in making a success of this arrangement.
“We have chosen Kano state as one of the pilot states. But a lot will depend on the support we get from His Excellency.
“I honestly want you to take note of that and to take this as a request coming from the Nigerian Police to Gov. Yusuf,” he said.
In response, the governor commended the current police management for their strong dedication exhibited in the ongoing battle against banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery across the nation.
Yusuf conveyed his gratitude for the effective law enforcement practices being implemented in the state, which have significantly mitigated certain security issues since the new administration came into power.
He further clarified that the Kano State government remains committed to providing ongoing support to ensure the police can operate at their best.
“Kano state government is a very serious government in this dispensation. We came on board when there were very serious insecurity challenges in the state.
“There was the issue of thuggery, the issue of phone snatching, armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry and so on and so forth.
“When we came we ensured that we brought all the security agencies working in Kano on board, especially the Nigerian Police Force.
“We have a very good relationship between the government and the police authorities,” said the governor.
“I want to assure you that we will continue doing our best to ensure that we achieve peace in the state and deal with the insecurity issues bedevilling the state.
“Let me seize this opportunity to also ask the IG to support us also in our fight against drug abuse, armed robbery, phone snatching, thuggery and so on and so forth.
“We appreciate what you have been doing, the tremendous efforts you have been making in ending kidnapping, not only in Kano but in Nigeria as a whole,” Yusuf said.
