Accidental discharge: 78 policemen trained in handling rifles

Determined to check cases of accidental discharges of firearms by policemen, the Lagos State Police Command has given a practical training to 78 police corporal on rifle handling. 

Part of the training, witnessed the policemen being blindfolded and told to dismantle and assemble their rifles. According to the Commander Ikeja Training School, a Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, the blindfolding symbolised ‘being in a distress situation.’
He said: Policemen were expected to be sure and firm in handling weapons, no matter the tense situation. The training was for five days. The corporals, who were also trained on other ethics and principle of the Nigeria Police Force, were charged to teach their colleagues all they had learnt.
The trainees demonstrated what they have learnt in dismantling and reassembling of rifles. Some were blindfolded and instructed to dismantle and assemble their rifles. Thunderous clapping, greeted their efforts. Adeoye said: “The training is in partnership with the Lagos State Police Command and in line with directives of the Inspector-General- of-Police (IGP) on training and training of senior and junior officers. I’m quite sure now that every participant at the training can service his or her weapons.
They can also assemble and dismantle them. I have confidence that if the participants go out, they would not misuse their firearms. It is part of the training we gave them. They are also our ambassadors.
They’ll represent us at their various stations.” Adeoye urged the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, to extend the training to other policemen, so that there they too would begin to avoid accidental discharge and misuse of firearms. He noted that those, who participated in the training, have better knowledge about firearms.
Responding, Owoseni said: “The policemen were not trained on firearms alone, but also educated on the importance of human rights and respect to members of the public. The idea behind the training is to bring global practices into the Nigeria Police Force and to also emphasise the training and retraining of our policemen.” Owoseni continued: “The command had started orientation programme for the officers of the command. What informed this is because of cases of misconducts being daily reported about the police.
The demonstration by the policemen was to show that they have mastery of the weapons they are carrying. Those blindfolded are policemen working in darkness during operation.” Owoseni warned the participants to always remember that whenever they carried arms, they should be careful in their interactions with members of the public. He added: “It’s unprofessional to oppress members of the public.”
The participants were also urged to let what they have learnt in the training, impact their individually life in the discharge of their duties. The training should also reflect positively in their lives. According to Owoseni, the trainees were the first batch. He noted that other policemen were going to benefit from the training, stressing that it would be a continuous one. He said that each batch of trainees would be given N200 stipend every day for snacks. The trainees were presented with certificates of participation.https://newtelegraphonline.com/accidental-discharge-78-policemen-trained-handling-rifles/