UK, UNMAS train Nigerian Police, Civil Defence

The UK Government, in partnership with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), has provided Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) training to 75 members of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers in Maiduguri, north-east Nigeria.

The inaugural training was designed to allow NPF and NSCDC officers to teach EORE techniques to members of at-risk communities so that they can share their knowledge more widely to reduce the harm caused by explosive ordnance.

Speaking at the closing ceremony in Maiduguri, the British High Commission’s Human Security Adviser, John Sanderson said: “This training is critically important. Police and Civil Defence officers will now be able to deploy to prioritised locations to raise awareness of community members about the risks of explosive ordnance. This will help to enhance human security in high-risk locations affected by conflict.”

Chief of the UNMAS Mine Action Programme in Nigeria, Edwin Faigmane, said: “Working with the NPF and NSCDC allows us to deliver these essential life-saving messages in hard-to-reach areas.

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“It also builds sustainability as the NPF and NSCDC will be present in these areas, working with communities, to better protect people against the dangers posed by explosive ordnance.”

The NSCDC Commandant in Borno, Abdulkadir Sulu, also said the training will not only boost the effectiveness of NSCDC personnel in assisting residents of communities that are impacted by explosives remnants of war to stay safe; it is also going to contribute significantly to keeping our personnel and their families too safe.

On his part, the Commissioner of Police in the State, Patrick Atayero, said: “I am delighted to announce that the Police EOD-CBRN training school in Maiduguri has officially commenced operations.

“The Explosive Ordnance Risk Education Trainers’ programme marks a significant step forward in enhancing our capacity to raise awareness about the dangers of explosive ordnance, ultimately promoting a safer environment in northeast Nigeria.”