NAF trains Provosts on crime investigation 30 years after

Inaugurates forensic laboratory, provost group

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Monday said it had trained 16 Provost personnel on core crime investigative skills and others in crime scene investigation.

These trainings, according to the Chief of the Air Staff  (CAS) Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar were last conducted 30-years-ago.

Abubakar spoke in Lagos at the inauguration of the NAF’s remodelled Forensic Crime Laboratory and the new 057 Provost Investigation Group.

According to him, the accuracy in the collection, review and analysis of evidence by law enforcement agencies and the ability of the court to fairly judge the strength of evidence was the bedrock of criminal justice administration.

He said after a gap analysis of the structure of the NAF, it had become obvious the new expanded NAF Force Structure required a law enforcement arm with the capacity to effectively employ scientific approaches in all facets of its critical competencies.

“Already, in conjunction with foreign partners from the United Kingdom, we have trained 16 Provost personnel in the Core Investigative Skills and Interview course.

“Another set of 16 personnel will in four days’ time be concluding the Crime Scene Investigation Course here in 057 Provost Investigation Group.

“In another development, the investigative capacity of the provost would be enhanced through the training of 10 Provost Officers in Advanced Detective Course at the Police Staff College, Jos, within the last quarter of the year.

“Akin to the development of investigative and forensic skills, the NAF is also at an advanced stage of expanding and enhancing its utilisation of Military Working Dogs to boost the physical security of NAF critical mission essential areas.

“This growth is equally projected to create the capacity for the Air Provost to be integrated in the conduct of Combat Search and Rescue operations in the Service.

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“In the same vein, 140 Air Provost personnel will commence the Force Protection in Complex Air Ground Environment training, in conjunction with the British Military Advisory Training Team (B-MAT).

“Furthermore, the rejuvenation of the Air Provost’s Explosive Ordnance Detection capability is projected to commence by the end of this year,” he said.

Abubakar said the NAF’s recent push to make inroads in the development of the capacity and capability of the Air Provost was premised on the need to have a proactive police force that would nip threats in the bud.

He said: “This would also provide the enabling environment for NAF personnel to freely discharge their duties in furtherance of the Service’s constitutional responsibilities,” he said.

Inaugurating the facility, the Inspector General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris said without the objective evidence obtained through scientific analysis, many crime cases would have gone unsolved and the perpetrators unpunished.

He said: “Forensic science is an integral part of the criminal justice system. It is vital in aiding the investigation of a crime and detection of criminals, as well as proving the innocence of people suspected of crimes that they did not commit.

“It is thus, a veritable tool for not only detection and prosecution, but also deterrence.”

The IG said that evidence was the cornerstone in modern police investigation, adding that witnesses could fall, be misunderstood, be influenced or contaminated.

“This effort by the Chief of the Air Staff in providing a befitting and functional environment and making inroads in the application of forensics in policing is laudable.

“It is a testimony of the Nigerian Air Force leadership’s commitment to push the boundaries and improve on the methodologies and technological platforms to detect and analyze evidence of crime in the service,” he said.

Commander Air Provost Investigation Group, Group Captain Garba Bello said the provision of the facilities would enhance the capacity of the NAF provost personnel in carrying out their duties, especially in the area of criminal investigations.

“These would significantly assist Air Provost Investigators in obtaining credible evidence for successful prosecution of cases in a court of law while at the same time adding to the country’s crime fighting resources,” he said.