By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
Abubakar Tatari Ali State Polytechnic Bauchi has presented certificates to all the 20 selected and accredited participants as members of the Private Security Agents Association of Nigeria (PSAAN) that participated at a 3-day training on the role of private security agents and other volunteer security groups fighting insecurity in the north east of the country.
Presenting the certificates to the private security personnel/participants on Wednesday, the Crime Prevention and Control Training Coordinator of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi, Dr. Mohammed Suleiman Awwal expressed appreciation of the polytechnic for getting the opportunity when it requested for the training programme two years ago from the North East Development Commission (NEDC).
He also said that immediately the approval was given, the institution commenced the training programme for the private security outfits in all the six states of the North East zone, carrying out and coordinating the training programme successfully.
The training coordinator added that the prevailing security challenges in the North East, coupled with the devastating effects on lives and property, informed the three days training which was funded by the NEDC, while thanking the management and coordinating staff of the commission for the training programme which he described as the first of its kind in the zone.
He noted that one of the purposes of the training workshop is to assemble the private security agents together to rub minds on the security situation in the North East and for them to discuss with experts and other security professionals, brainstorm on issues and challenges of insecurity generally in the zone.
Dr. Awwal however, pledged to produce a white paper on the training programme, being the first school; to introduce or offer crime prevention and control as well as criminology in any institution in the North East from the Department of Crime Prevention and Control, while calling on individuals and organizations to patronize the institution.
Describing the training programme as an acclaimed one trending in the media all over the world, Dr. Mohammed further thanked the sponsors of the security training programme, NEDC management and coordinating staff of the training programme, adding that the training is also targeted at training the trainers in order to train the trainees in their communities.
A resource person, Malam Musa Yakubu from Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi, explained further that the training was conducted peacefully and smoothly without much hitches, despite the fact that the programme was aimed at synergizing, strengthening and consolidating on the security issues and problems in the North East to from the training programme, share ideas and experiences between the formal and informal security agencies in the zone and country at large
He also explained that the training included conduct of intelligence gathering and elaborate informal justice, juvenile delinquency, terrorism and insurgency, among others in facilitating crime prevention and control in the six states of the North East.
Musa further urged the trainees to properly utilize what they learnr during the period, relating same to others whenever they are back home in the society in order to enhance peace, unity, progress and development of the society among the people and communities of the North East.
Speaking to journalists during the training, the Private Security Agents Group Head, Yakubu Ali expressed delight and appreciation to the organizers for training them and giving them opportunity to build themselves and grow as well as train others.
He said the training really exposed them and created important awareness and knowledge on what is security, insecurity, terrorism, insurgency, who is a terrorist, insurgent, a thief, justice, crime, litigation and many others .
The participants added that the training has benefitted them a lot, while expressing hope that whenever they return back to their respective states, thet will be able to extend the know;edge they acquired to their colleagues
He appreciated the resource persons and NEDC for their support and encouragement, while urging the commission to sponsor similar training for them in the future.
Highpoint of the event included presentation of certificates and group photographs, among others.
