Nigeria Police deploys sniffer dogs to airports

Inspector General says dogs will help maintain safety and security of persons

The Nigeria Police on Thursday said it has deployed sniffer dogs to airports across the country.

In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar ordered on Thursday that the sniffer dogs be deployed to airports immediately.

The first phase of the deployment commenced with the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Murtala Mohammed International Airport I and II, Lagos; and Port-Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa as well as Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano; Jos Airport; and Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

Mr. Mba said the deployment was in line with international best practice and that the Inspector General has sworn to drastically reduce crime, provide and maintain safety and security of persons and to also protect vulnerable and critical government infrastructure in order to reduce possibility of arms smuggling through the airports. He noted that the sniffer dogs will be used for detecting explosives, rescue operations, perimeter patrols, and patrols of parking lots and the apprehension of offenders resisting or attempting to evade arrest.

Mr. Abubakar charged the dog handlers to respect the fundamental rights of the citizens while working together with other security agencies towards providing effective security at the airports. He also called for the cooperation of the general public, assuring them that the police would do all that is necessary to provide them with optimum security.