Police deploy 2000 men to assist military in fight against Boko Haram
The police said it has deployed two thousand men to assist the military in its fight against Boko Haram in the North East.
The recent killing of several soldiers by the insurgents had prompted calls for reinforcement and backup for the military operatives.
Police authorities said Sunday that the move to deploy its operatives for purely military duties was necessary and in line with the constitution.
The operatives that are being deployed comprise mobile policemen and officers from the Counter Terrorism Units. Officers from the Sniffer Dog Sections are also deployed.
Spokesperson Jimoh Moshood said that the police already has on ground forty-seven PMF Units, amounting to 2961 operatives in Borno, in addition to mobile policemen in the state.
Moshood further said that twenty-six units, making a total of 1638 operatives, are also on ground in Yobe, while there are eighteen units (1134 operatives) on ground in Adamawa.
He added that the Counter Terrorism Unit of the Force has deployed over 1,250 personnel to the North East in the fight. About 300 personnel of the Anti Bomb Squad, as well as over hundred sniffer dogs are also working with the military in the fight against terrorists in the region.
The statement said police operatives from different units have been fighting side by side with the military all along, while escorting foreign and local humanitarian workers at IDP camps.
“The Police Air-wing Surveillance Helicopters and crews are also deployed to support most of the operations of Operation Lafiya Dole throughout the North East in the fight against insurgency in the North East,” Moshood’s statement read.
There have been concerns that the insurgents boast superior sophisticated firepower compared to the military.
