In a landmark initiative, 75 officers from the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have completed specialized training in Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE).
The programme, a collaborative effort between the United Kingdom Government and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), concluded its inaugural session in Maiduguri on October 4, 2024.
The training, which took place in a region severely affected by conflict and explosive remnants of war, aimed to equip officers with critical skills to educate at-risk communities on the dangers of unexploded ordnance.
Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer at the British High Commission in Abuja, disclosed the programme’s details in a statement, emphasizing its potential to reduce casualties.
John Sanderson, Human Security Adviser at the British High Commission, highlighted the importance of deploying trained officers to vulnerable areas.
“This training is critically important. Police and Civil Defence officers will now be able to deploy to prioritised locations to raise awareness among community members about the risks of explosive ordnance. This will help enhance human security in high-risk areas affected by conflict,” Sanderson stated.
Edwin Faigmane, Chief of the UNMAS Mine Action Programme in Nigeria, emphasized the sustainability of the initiative.
“Working with the NPF and NSCDC enables us to deliver these essential life-saving messages in hard-to-reach areas. It also builds sustainability, as the NPF and NSCDC will be present in these areas, working with communities to better protect people from the dangers posed by explosive ordnance,” Faigmane said.
The officers who underwent this critical training will now be deployed to vulnerable communities to pass on life-saving knowledge, a move expected to significantly reduce the threat posed by explosive remnants of war.
The collaboration between local security forces and international agencies like UNMAS is considered a crucial step in protecting civilians, particularly in Nigeria’s northeastern region.
NSCDC Commandant Abdulkadir Sulu described the training as essential for both personnel and their families, while Commissioner of Police Patrick Atayero announced the official commencement of operations at the newly established Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear training school in Maiduguri.
Both leaders expressed gratitude to the UK Government and UNMAS for their commitment to fostering a safer environment in the conflict-ridden northeast.
This initiative marks a significant step toward strengthening the capacity of Nigerian security forces in safeguarding communities and preventing further tragedies caused by unexploded ordnance.