By: Sulayman Waan & Maria Lopes
479 Gambian security personnel have completed weeks of training on VIP protection and Public Order Management ahead of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) at PIU headquarters in Kanifing.
The men and women include personnel from the Gambia Police Force, Prison Service, Immigration Department, State Intelligent Services, Gambia Revenue Authority and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, while two hundred and twenty six (226) agents were trained on VIP protection.
Alh. Mamut Jobe, Inspector General of Police commended the grandaunts for successfully completion of the week’s training ahead of the forthcoming international event, saying the training will enable them to get thorough preparation of the upcoming conference.
He expressed gratitude to the officers for going under this kind of training, adding this is the first of its kind for large number of Gambian security forces to be trained on VIP protection and public order management (POM).
“It’s indeed our greatest confident that the security agents are fully trained on Public Order Management as well as VIP Protection and up to the task,” he said.
Representing the minister of Interior, Yankuba Sonko, special advisor for the Minister of Interior observed that there are numerous positive changes in the security forces, adding that he further recognised fitness and potential in the security agents.
He urged the grandaunts to uphold patients and tolerance in the course of executing their duties as security personnel so as to help in attaining the sustainable development goal that all security officers are yearning for.
“Security is noble profession and is our responsibility to ensure safety and security of this nation. Since the OIC is coming there is a need for us to prepare ourselves because failing to plan is planning to failed,” he urged.
Essa Bocar Sey, Public Relation Officer for the OIC National Secretariat the Gambia cum Head of Security Component of OIC- said there is more committee at OIC- more significant than the Security Committee.
He added that if the territory is not secured the super accommodation is still unsafe as bad element can come to affect the wellbeing of the masses on the ground.
“You are the people who will scarified your lives for the country, we will continue to work with the IGP. In fact our [OIC] relation is good even the Turkish government had recognised that,” he said.
