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Do Everything Possible To Make 2019 Election Violence Free, President Buhari Tells Police

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President Muhammadu Buhari has warned the police to desist from acts which tend to bring the community in conflict with them.

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He said unprofessional conducts such as illegal detentions, extrajudicial killings, torture and violation of fundamental human rights were unacceptable and must be avoided by the Nigeria Police Force at all times.

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Naija News learnt that the President gave the directives in his address at the convocation and passing out parade of the First Regular Cadet Course at the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State.

“We must abide by the constitutional code of conduct in policing our people,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by his media adviser, Femi Adesina.

President Buhari added, “The Police in its efforts to fight crime must work in partnership with the community. You cannot properly police the people without their consent. “It is appropriate to warn you as police officers not to see yourselves as being above the law. You must be above board and resist all temptations.”

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The President also used the occasion to remind police officers to shun corruption and resist all temptations that impede the integrity and professionalism of the Force.

He asked them to be “contented with your salaries and allowances,” adding that the government recently increased their general emoluments to make them more efficient and effective in the discharge of their duties.

“With this increase in your salaries, you have less reason to fall into temptations of financial or other inducements,” President Buhari told the officers. “Let me again reiterate that this administration has zero tolerance for corruption.”

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He stressed, “Corruption is the major reason why the Nigerian economy has not developed at the rate of other comparable countries. If we must develop and reap the fruits of our democratic dispensation, we must shun corruption at all levels.”“It is, therefore, your responsibilities and other anti-corruption agencies to kill corruption before corruption overtakes Nigeria.”

The President, thereafter, commended the police for the successes they have recorded in the fight against various aspects of crime in the country.

He also acknowledged their efforts in working closely with the military in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

President Buhari said, “The success recorded in the fight against Boko Haram in the North East cannot be related without mentioning the support you are giving to the Military. The group is no longer occupying any Nigerian territory as it used to before the advent of this administration.”

“The recent attacks by the Boko Haram group can be likened to attempts of defeated insurgents to re-organise its ragtag and scattered individuals. This, however, will not be possible as adequate strategic plans have been put in place in conjunction with our neighbouring countries to completely wipe out the group.”

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A Violence-Free Election
On the 2019 elections, the President reiterated that it was the duty of the police, supported by other security agencies to adequately secure the polls.

He said, “You must do everything possible to make the election violence free to avoid ballot box snatching, multiple voting, vote buying on sites, attack on electoral officers and other acts which might negatively impact on the elections and their outcome.”

“The elections must be conducted in a violence-free environment for it to be adjudged credible, free and fair in the eyes of both local and international observers,” he stated.

The President pledged that his administration would continue to do all it can to make the police efficient and responsive to the security needs of the country by providing the necessary assistance to make their operations technology based.

He congratulated the graduands on successfully completing the five-year training programme in the institution.

President Buhari also asked the new officers to be courageous, brave and determined in the fight against all forms of crime in the country.

He said he was happy to be the first serving President to witness the passing out parade of the first batch of Nigeria Police Academy Cadet Officers.

A major highlight of the event was the presentation of a sword of honour to the best graduating Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police, Shuaibu Aminu, by the President.

He also presented an award to the best female graduating Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police, Evangeline Babuba.

The event was also attended by Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and his Jigawa State counterpart, Governor Mohammed Badaru, as well as the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and other senior police officers.