Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, has said that the Police force will recruit at least 10,000 personnel every year to boost its operations.

He made this known in Sokoto on Friday while addressing officers and men of Zone 10 of the force in Sokoto State, comprising Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara commands.

Idris explained that “the yearly recruitment will be based on local government basis to reflect federal character and equity.”

“The communities will be engaged meaningfully in the exercise in tune with the principles of democratic policing,” he added.

The IGP also promised that the force will continue to prioritise training, retraining, promotion, welfare, housing, logistics and other operational needs of its personnel in order to boost their productivity.

He also pledged to renovate police barracks across the nation, which he described as being “in a sorry state.”

On the issue of funding for the force, Idris said: “The police are largely underfunded, hence, Nigeria is under-policed, and I am working to redress the ugly trend.”

He said that talks are already underway with the National Assembly to address the issue.

The IGP also said that the force “will soon reopen the Mobile Police Training School in Gwoza, Borno, (as well as) establish a marine school in Bayelsa, among others.”

Idris also restated that Police checkpoints across the country remain banned but clarified that the personnel must maintain visibility policing, adding however that “bail is still free.’’

“We should continue to be of good conduct to earn and sustain the confidence as well as the respect of the public we are supposed to be serving diligently,” he said.

Assistant Inspector-General of police in charge of the zone 10, Yakubu Usman, in his remarks, commended IGP Idris for his humility, diligence and commitment to moving the force forward.

He noted that the general security situation in the zone had remained peaceful in spite some attempts to disturb the peace.