The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, says Nigeria will soon begin the recruitment of 20,000 junior officers.

The IGP gave the hint Tuesday evening when he paid a working visit to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo at the State Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan.

Mr Baba informed the governor that the Nigeria Police plans to increase its strength by recruiting junior police officers.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recruitment.

According to Mr Baba, every local government area would benefit, and recruited officers would serve in their respective local government areas after training.

The IGP said the exercise would expand the force capacity to combat crime and embolden its community policing strategy.

Mr Baba said his working visit was to interact with the police personnel to boost their morale after the EndSARS protest.

He said the visit was to also engage stakeholders on community policing, which, according to him, is an adopted strategy of policing in Nigeria.

“We have not just started now; it has started as far back as 2004, but it has not been effectively used by both the government and members of the public.

In his remarks, Mr Makinde stated the Police Command in Oyo State had been trying its best, cooperating with the people of the state and all other security agencies.

He said the police were hostile when Amotekun was established, “because they felt that Amotekun came on board to take up their jobs and responsibilities.

“But over these few months, with the leadership of the police in the state, we have serious cooperation and the inter-agency rivalry has been reduced to the barest minimum in the state.

“We also know that this is a challenging period for the country the resources are dwindling, but we have challenges all over, especially the insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, kidnapping in the South and ethnic tension everywhere.

“So, we have to keep supporting the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force,” he said.

The governor asked for another Mobile Force Squadron in Oyo Town, promising his government would provide the infrastructure for its take-off.

He said the 72 Squadron in Ago-Are, approved by the former IGP, was assisting in addressing security challenges in the Oke-Ogun axis of the state.