Commissioner of Police (CP) Nnaghe Obono Itam has reiterated the importance of self-development and capacity building for police officers during a visit from the Head of the Department of Forensic Science at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. The meeting, held on September 25, 2024, emphasized the need for officers to acquire new skills to improve their efficiency in modern-day policing.

During the event, CP Itam advocated for officers to take advantage of self-development courses to enhance their knowledge of crime prevention, modern policing strategies, and the protection of lives and property. He stressed the importance of continuous retraining to adapt to the evolving demands of law enforcement.

“The retraining of our officers is critical for a better policing system. It will expose our personnel to modern-day strategies and arm them with the necessary skills to confront emerging security challenges,” CP Itam said.

The CP also highlighted ongoing capacity development exercises initiated by the command, which include mandatory training in Police Duties, the Police Act and regulations, Musketry, Riot Drills, Foot Drills, Use of Firearms, and Human Rights. These training sessions, conducted in batches, aim to instill courage and confidence in officers when confronting armed criminals and responding to distress calls, ensuring better service delivery across Anambra State.

The visit from Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s Forensic Science Department was seen as an opportunity to foster collaboration between academic institutions and the police force, further boosting the skills of officers through specialized training.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer for the Anambra State Police Command, confirmed the visit and reiterated the command’s commitment to enhancing officer capabilities to meet the challenges of modern policing.