*Tasks Nigerians on support to ease work pressure on security personnel
By Michael Oche
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Zuma Deck, Abuja has tasked Nigerians to partner with personnel of the Nigeria police and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in a bid to reduce work-related stress which affects the mental health of the personnel.
NAS gave the advice on Thursday at a sensitization lecture held at the Kubwa Area Command Police station, Kubwa-FCT, to mark the 2024 World Mental health day,
Speaking at the event, Mr Viktor Ikiriko, the Capoon of Zuma Deck, said the organisation decided to bring the sensitization to the security personnel because it understands the pressure under which they operate.
He said, “We brought this lecture to personnel of the Nigerian police and federal road safety corps, because we understand the difficulties associated with the work they do to keep us safe and to keep our roads safe. However, in doing so, we also understand that for them to be able to discharge their responsibilities efficiently, they also need to be mentally stable.”
He said further that “NAS as an advocacy organization will continue to encourage members of the society to give vital information to the police to effectively perform their roles to the society.”
Also speaking, Chief Superintendent of Police, Ezeini Austin, Area Crime Officer, Area Command Headquarters, Kubwa -FCT, said such sensitization is necessary to help the officers understand issues of mental health
He said, “even some of our personnel, due to some of the pressure and demands of the job, sensitization such as this is very important to the officers and men of the Nigeria Police.”
According to him, the Inspector General of Police takes very seriously the issue of welfare and wellbeing of personnel, part of which is their mental health.
He said, “Because as an officer, you have to be mentally stable in order to dispense the same to the society at large. Because sometimes, you see some certain videos going viral, and you ask yourself, “this officers, are they mentally okay?”
“So when organizations like this come to lecture men of the Nigerian police force on issues that bothers on mental health, it is well commendable because it is what we are dealing with on a daily basis.
“Because sometimes, when we bring suspects in and question them, you discover that they are mentally depressed due to one challenge or the other. So if you are not equipped with such knowledge to deal with such a case, then it becomes a very difficult task. But being acquainted with such knowledge will help to do the proper thing as required, such as bringing in a health personnel to first attend to the suspect’s health before you can continue with your investigation.”
He said if members of the public embrace community policing, it will reduce the pressure on personnel of the police.
In his words, “Policing is a general assignment for all citizens. So we always employ the general public to partner with the police to assist the police with intelligence gathering, with every good information that will help them. Because if they do so, it will also help them reduce pressure that is being mounted on the limited manpower that we have in the force. With the idea of community policing that force management has been advancing, it means everybody is a stakeholder to the issue that bothers on safety of life and properties of all the citizens .
Also speaking, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anselem Ajegwu, officer in charge of surveillance, Area Command, Kubwa, said mental health issues are very important to every police officer and every public officer because of the sensitivity of their job.
He commended the NAS for organising the sensitization while also urging members of the public to partner with the force to make their jobs easy.