A contingent of 144 police officers from Nigeria has arrived in Somalia to boost security stabilisation efforts in the country.
Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) announced the arrival on Monday, saying the officers are in the country to also train men of Somalia Police Force.
AMISOM Police operations coordinator, Daniel Ali Gwambal said 30 of the police officers will serve under AMISOM for one year.
The officers, including women, departed Nigeria over the weekend.
He said they will be deployed to Beletweyne in HirShabelle State while the rest will serve in various roles in the capital, Mogadishu.
Gwambal in a statement released said;
They are here in order to fulfil the mandate of AMISOM with regards to operational support to the Somalis and at the same time to mentor the Somali Police Force (SPF).
There are certain specific duties that are also incumbent on them to perform while they are here such as regular patrols at checkpoints, guard static duties and other duties that involve general policing.
He added that the officers will work on providing VIP escort and protection services, training, and assisting Somali Police Force (SPF) in public order management.
The coordinator stressed that they will also conduct joint patrols with their Somali counterparts and secure key government installations and high-level events.
The deployment comes amidst swelling insecurity such as kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria also, which has continued to ravage every region of the country.
Federal Government of Nigeria has usually said the country is under-policed, while contemplating the models of experts who have advocated the establishments of state police and community police outfits to complement the overstretched federal police force.
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