The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Thursday explained the employment of ‘repentant thugs’ as Police Constables in Kano State.
This comes despite viral recordings showing some repentant gangsters being hired as police constables in Kano to combat crime. Some Nigerians condemned the scenario, criticizing the judgment.
PSC spokesman Ikechukwu Ani stated in a statement that the “repentant criminals” were recruited as police constabulary since they realized that crime does not pay.
“The Commission wishes to state categorically that the Special Constabulary are not Police men and not recognised as such by the Commission and Government,” he said.
“The Commission, however, notes that the Constabulary operations 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.”
He noted that the commission is in contact with the Kano State Police Command and is aware that the Constabulary is being used to assist the Police in achieving a crime-free Kano State.
To Ani, it is vital to clarify that the men and women hired as Special Constabulary are assigned to work in their neighborhood, where they will be better able to catch the criminals terrorizing the area.
“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,” he explained.
“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.”
Ani stated that the PSC Chairman, Dr. Solomon Arase, will continue to collaborate with the police to provide greater security of lives and property in the country, noting that their engagement is to promote sustainable peace, economic progress, and development of the state.
Arase, a retired Inspector General of Police, stated that security is not only the responsibility of the government, but of every Nigerian, and he advocated for a citizen-based approach to security in Nigeria.
