Police To Employ Part-Time Special Constables

Nigerian police have concluded plans to engage thousands of Special Constables to work with conventional policemen in communities.

The force said it had to introduce the idea as part of measures to check rising insecurity in the face of insufficient manpower.

The recruitment of the special officers, which would be announced any moment from now, has received presidential backing, as well as state governors’ approval and it is expected to start in Kaduna and other northern states where the traditional emirate and district structures support the system.

The men, who will not be armed, are expected to handle charge room and administrative duties, crowd control, accident scene duties, alternative dispute resolution and other less sensitive and less risky functions. They are expected to dress in police uniform but with a different force number to distinguish them from the regular cops.

It was learnt that respectable members of the society like pastors, imams, teachers, lawyers, journalists and responsible youths would be considered for the volunteer job.

The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, confirmed the plan and explained that the candidates for the constabulary would be between the ages of 21-50, and must be physically fit and gainfully employed.