Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has called for the use of technology and intelligence gathering for effective policing in the country.
The governor made the call at Government House, Minna when he granted an audience to the police screening team for the recruitment exercise in Niger State.
He said deploying intelligence and modern technology by the police will aid in tackling insecurity and also put them on par with other countries in the world.
The governor also called for the engagement of more plain-clothed police for effective intelligence gathering on issues affecting society, adding that members of the public will be more comfortable providing information to secret police officers.
Governor Bago said police officers should be posted to their communities to serve for at least 5 to 10 years.
He said doing so would make the transition to state policing easier, and the police personnel would effectively discharge their duties as they are familiar with their localities.
He enjoined the NPF not to compromise the recruitment process but to ensure that only qualified and true Nigerians are recruited while reassuring them of the commitment of his administration to providing welfare and logistical support to them to give their best.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Danladi, who led the screening team, disclosed that they had screened over 13,000 candidates, adding that the results would soon be released and successful ones would sit for a computer-based test (CBT), and those who excelled would thereafter go for training.
He applauded the support of the state government through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), pointing out that the support made the screening exercise smooth.