Special Constabulary Recognised By Police Act – Police Service Commission 

Ayuba Sanusi 

THE Police Service Commission (PSC) has said the Special Constabulary initiative employed by some state commands to combat crime and criminality has the backing of the Police Act.

The issue of the status of the Special Constabulary came to the fore recently when it was alleged that a repentant criminal was recruited into the organisation in Kano State. 

However,  the PSC, in a statement Thursday, said that though the Special Constabulary is not Policemen and not recognised as such by the Commission and government, their operations, it insists, are covered and recognised by the Police Act and are readily useful and needed now that the nation is fighting to end the siege of criminals across the country.

The PSC in the statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations further said that the Commission was in touch with the Kano State Police Command and is aware that the use of the Constabulary is to support the Police in building a crime-free Kano State.

“It is necessary to state that the men and women recruited as Special Constabulary are posted to work in their locality where they will be in a better position to fish out the criminals terrorising the place.

“Some of the repentant influential youths previously used in the past as political thugs and abandoned have realised that crime does not pay and have voluntarily offered themselves to assist fight for a crime-free state.

“The Commission is also aware that the Kano Special Constabulary has received adequate training and are working in their local government areas as required by law but under strict supervision of the State Police Command. 

“Their engagement is obviously for visibility and to promote sustainable peace, economic growth and development of the state.”

Quoting the Chairman of the Commission, Dr Solomon Arase, a former Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ani says the Commission will continue to partner with the Police to ensure improved security of lives and property in the country.  

According to him, Dr. Arase noted that security is not only a government responsibility but that of every Nigerian even as he called for a citizen-based approach to security in Nigeria.

Dr Arase, according to Mr Ani, disclosed that the Commission in consultation with the Inspector-General of Police will ensure that the uniform of the Constabularies are clearly differentiated from that of the Nigeria Police Force to avoid cases of identity crisis and also define their specific roles in the security architecture of the nation.

Eighteen-Eleven Media