Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has pledged to strengthen the training and retraining of police officers on how to appropriately interact with persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Disu made the commitment on Wednesday when he received a delegation led by Jake Epelle, founder and Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, at the police headquarters.
The delegation included Brenda Anyanwu, CEO of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund; Mayowa Aderibigbe, Executive Director; and Agaba Jacob, Chairman of the Nigeria Association of the Blind, alongside other disability and inclusion advocates.
The engagement focused on promoting inclusive policing and strengthening the protection of PWDs, who stakeholders identified as particularly vulnerable to crime and abuse.
Epelle commended the police leadership for its efforts towards inclusive policing and called for a security architecture that deliberately considers the needs and experiences of persons with disabilities.
He also urged the IGP to support the first Inclusive Security Summit, which is expected to receive funding from the European Union.
Speaking during the engagement, Jacob urged the police to move beyond treating PWDs solely as people in need of protection, stressing the importance of their participation in policing.
He said persons with disabilities could contribute to areas such as intelligence gathering and other policing functions where their disabilities do not prevent them from performing effectively.
Jacob also highlighted the heightened vulnerability of PWDs to crime, including sexual and gender-based violence, and called for stronger measures to safeguard them.
Responding to the concerns, Disu described the engagement as an “eye-opener” and reaffirmed the police commitment to developing a policing system that recognises the needs of PWDs and other vulnerable groups.
The IGP pledged to enhance the capacity of police officers through regular training and retraining to ensure persons with disabilities are treated appropriately, effectively and with dignity whenever they interact with the police.
The stakeholders also called for sustained collaboration among the police, disability organisations and other relevant institutions to make security services more accessible and responsive to persons with disabilities across the country.
Boluwatife Enome
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