Experts Recommend Regular Psychological Evaluation And Training For Security Officers

Security experts in Lagos today called on security agencies to do regular psychological evaluation and training for security officers for enhanced efficiency. The experts said this while responding to separate interviews in their reaction to cases of accidental discharge by some security personnel in Nigeria.

A security consultant, Mr Olaitan Adams, said that such training should be regular and should dwell on how to handle arms. “Aside the training, the agencies should also subject the officials handling guns to periodic psychological evaluation to monitor and stabilise their state of mind,” he said.

Also, Head of Media Operations at Bells Security, Mr Charles Sullivan said that most cases of accidental discharge on the part of the security officials could be traced to frustration and poverty. “Although security personnel have no excuse for accidentally shooting, it is important that government and employers in security agencies make welfare of their personnel a priority,” he said.

A security expert, Mr Azeez Bankole, called for proper scrutiny of those shortlisted for employment into security outfits to ascertain that the best qualified candidates were recruited.

A retired security personnel, Mr Aliyu Hamza, called on the government to do more in terms of welfare of security personnel to elicit maximum productivity from them. He said that the role of security personnel in protecting life and property in the country could not be over emphasised.

The Nigeria Police had recently circulated some phone numbers for Nigerians to report indecent acts of the police.

The numbers are:

• Provost Marshall — 09053872207,
• Control Room — 09053872208,
• X-Squad — 09053872209.

[Lagos/NAN]