The Police have trained 192 personnel on Explosive Ordinance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear, EOD-CBRN, to tackle the menace of insecurity in the country.
The Inspector–General of Police, IGP, Alkali Baba-Usman, said this at the closing ceremony of the EOD-CBRN Basic Course 19/2022 at the Mobile Police Training camp, Ende Hills, Nasarawa State on Thursday.
The IGP, represented by the DIG Operations, Bala Senchi, said that the four weeks training was to expose the personnel to current methodology in preventing, detecting, interdicting and responding to threats associated with Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, unexploded ordinance and nuclear terrorism.
He noted that the EOD-CBRN command had recorded several achievements in the fight against criminal use of explosives and allied materials in perpetrating heinous crimes.
“It’s noteworthy to state that this course is the first of its kind after the official addition of CBRN to the nomenclature,” he said.
Baba-Usman said that the training curriculum was packaged to improve, reinvigorate EOD-CBRN operations to effectively confront the current increasing threats in the country.
He said that the Police under his leadership was committed to further develop the capacity of EOD-CBRN command and provide it with requisite equipment and logistics to undertake its services with highest standard of professionalism.
“In this view, the completion of the EOD-CBRN International Training School located in Maiduguri, remains a priority focus of this administration,” he said.
The I-G therefore, urged the trainees to apply the knowledge gained to stem the tide of unlawful use of explosives, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials to perpetuate crimes in the country.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of EOD-CBRN Command, Zannah Shettima, said that the training was approved by the I-G to boost the capacity of the command to curtail the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear explosives threat nationwide.
According to Mr Shettima, the Command has over the years lost experienced and well-trained personnel to retirement, demobilisation, promotion to CP cadre and death, hence the need for fresh hands to boost its capacity.
He said that the trainees were from the ranks of Constable to Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, drawn from all the state commands and police formations across the country.
The police commissioner expressed confidence that the trainees had developed basic skills and proficient knowledge on CBRN explosive detection, identification, response and security as well as disposal and demolition techniques.
He urged the trainees to shun corruption and eschew any form of unprofessional act capable of denting the image of the command.
“As it is normal with other facets of our lives, bad elements also exist in the command. Do not allow yourselves to be co-opted. Practice what you have learnt here at all times,” he added.
The ceremony also featured a demonstration of how to detect, demobilise and dispose IEDs.
NAN
