The Edo State Police Command has intensified strategic training programmes aimed at strengthening the tactical and investigative capacity of its personnel across the state as part of efforts to combat evolving security challenges.
The Command said the initiative is in compliance with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on continuous professional development for officers and men of the Force.
According to the Command, comprehensive firearms training, weapon handling (musketry), and combat drills for constables commenced on March 23, 2026, with 480 officers drawn from various formations participating in the exercise.
The training programmes are being held at Police Mobile Force Squadrons 5, 60 and 82 located across Edo South, Edo North and Edo Central Senatorial Districts to ensure wider operational preparedness and improved security coverage.
Police authorities explained that the training is being conducted in batches, with each batch made up of 60 constables undergoing intensive tactical and operational drills designed to instill discipline, professionalism, combat readiness and responsible firearm deployment.
The Command further disclosed that, in response to the growing complexity of violent crimes in Edo North and Edo Central, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, directed the immediate specialized training of selected officers on the operational deployment of General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) and gun trucks recently provided to the Command by the Edo State Government.
The specialized tactical training, which began on May 1, 2026, is expected to strengthen the Command’s rapid response capabilities and improve its ability to deploy superior firepower against armed criminal elements while adhering to global best practices and rules of engagement.
On the investigative side, the Command is also conducting specialized capacity-building training for Divisional Crime Officers (DCOs) and Investigating Police Officers (IPOs) on the legal and regulatory framework guiding audio-visual statement recording in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
The training focuses on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the Evidence Act 2011, and constitutional safeguards regulating statement-taking procedures.
According to the Police Command, the programme is aimed at equipping officers with the knowledge required to properly record confessional statements, protect suspects’ rights, and ensure compliance with evidentiary standards to prevent cases from being lost on technical grounds in court.
CP Agbonika reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, assuring residents that the Police would continue to invest in human and tactical capacity development to stay ahead of criminal elements.
He also urged members of the public to support security agencies with timely and credible information to aid ongoing operations.