Jigawa Police begin training on election security ahead of 2027 polls

The Jigawa Police Command has commenced a five-day training programme on election security management for its personnel ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Shiisu Lawan, disclosed this in a statement in Dutse.

Lawan said the training, organised by the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), began on Oct. 26 and would end on Oct. 30 at the Manpower Development Institute (MDI), Dutse.

He said the programme, with the theme, “Role of Police Officers in Strengthening Electoral Security,” was designed to strengthen the capacity of personnel to manage election-related security challenges.

According to him, the opening ceremony featured remarks by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Tijjani Murtala; a representative of the Executive Secretary of NPTF, Mr Ibrahim Muhammad; a consultant and facilitator from the University of Abuja, Prof. Umar D. Muhammad; and a resource person from the Federal University Dutse, Prof. Mustapha Hussaini.

Lawan said Murtala stressed the importance of continuous training and professional development in preparing officers for electoral security responsibilities.

He said the commissioner urged the participants to demonstrate professionalism, impartiality, discipline and respect for human rights while protecting lives and property and maintaining public order during elections.

The spokesman added that the commissioner also emphasised the need for political neutrality, adherence to the rule of law and compliance with established operational guidelines and democratic policing principles.

He said the NPTF representative, facilitator and resource person also highlighted the importance of specialised training, effective coordination, intelligence-led policing and lawful procedures in addressing election-related security challenges.

According to him, the training covers election security management, crowd control, conflict prevention, rules of engagement, human rights, intelligence gathering and lawful responses to electoral incidents.

He said the programme would equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills required to prevent electoral violence, manage public gatherings and respond professionally to emerging security threats before, during and after elections.

Lawan said the commissioner, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Rilwan Disu, formally declared the training open and urged participants to maximise the opportunity to improve their professional competence and operational readiness.

He added that members of the state police command’s management team attended the opening ceremony, demonstrating the command’s commitment to capacity building and the maintenance of a peaceful electoral environment.

The spokesman said the command appreciated the NPTF and the Inspector-General of Police for their continued support in strengthening police capacity.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring peaceful and violence-free elections through professional, impartial and rights-based policing.