The Police Service Commission (PSC) says the Special Constabulary in Kano State is not recognised by law.
The PSC stated this in a statement issued by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani in a statement.
Ani said its attention was drawn to the operations of the constabulary in the state even as it relates to the issue of a repentant criminal said to have been recruited into the organisation.
According to the PSC statement, the Special Constabulary are not Policemen and are not recognised as such by the commission and government.
The PSC, however, noted that the Constabulary operations are covered and recognised by the Police Act and are readily useful and needed now that the nation is fighting to end the siege of criminals across the country.
The commission, it added, is in touch with the Kano State Police Command and is aware that the use of the Constabulary is to support the Police in building a crime-free Kano State.
“It is necessary to state that the men and women recruited as Special Constabulary are posted to work in their locality where they will be in a better position to fish out the criminals terrorising the place,” the PSC statement reads.
“Some of the repentant influential youths previously used in the past as political thugs and abandoned have realised that crime does not pay and have voluntarily offered themselves to assist fight for a crime-free state.
“The Commission is also aware that the Kano Special Constabulary has received adequate training and are working in their Local Government areas as required by law but under strict supervision of the State Police Command.
“Their engagement is obviously for visibility and to promote Sustainable peace, economic growth, and development of the state.
“Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, former Inspector General of Police says the Commission will continue to partner with the Police to ensure an improved security of lives and property in the country.
“Dr. Arase noted that security is not only a government responsibility but that of every Nigerian and called for a citizen-based approach to security in Nigeria.”
The statement added that the PSC is consulting with the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the uniform to be worn by Constabularies is clearly differentiated from that of the Nigeria Police Force to avoid cases of identity crisis and also define their specific roles in the security architecture of the nation.
