NIS graduates first female armed squad

The first batch of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)’s Women Armed Squad has passed out after undergoing training exercises in weapons handling and border security among others.

Speaking at the passing out parade ceremony of the squad, Mr Isa Jere, the Comptroller-General, NIS tasked the newly graduated female officers to put the knowledge and training learnt into use to enhance their capacity and prepare them for future tasks ahead.

Jere was represented by an Assistant Comptroller-General, Mr Usman Babangida, at the passing out parade ceremony at the NIS training school, Ahoada in Rivers State.

He charged the officers to ensure the security of the country’s borders and ensure the lives and property of the citizens were well protected.

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The Service’s spokesperson, Mr Tony Akuneme, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

Jere said, “today’s event is another innovation. “It will further enhance our capacity to effectively deploy our personnel to critical areas of national assignment as may be required from time to time.

“Today, we are witnessing the Passing Out Parade of 61 officers, all female, who have undergone rigorous physical training on weapons handling among others.

“These officers have indeed demonstrated their readiness and capacity to stand toe-to-toe with the male as they go out there to serve our fatherland.

“May I also inform you that the service presently has over 1000 personnel undergoing the pre-basic training programme in Immigration Training School, Kano and the Customs Training School, Goron Dutse, Kano.”

The C-G said the essence of the training was to ensure the readiness of its personnel, both physically and mentally to compete favourably with their counterparts across the world in the performance of core Immigration duties.