Some Nigerian police officers deployed to Zamfara and Kebbi States to fight Lakurawa terrorists have complained about spending several months on special assignments without being replaced.
The officers alleged that they had remained away from their families for months despite repeated promises by their superiors that new personnel would take over their duties.
One of the affected officers, who spoke in an interview, appealed to the Nigeria Police Force authorities to intervene and ensure their immediate replacement.
According to the officer, the team was initially deployed to Zamfara State on January 28 for a special security operation. They were reportedly assured that they would be rotated after two to three months.
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However, he claimed they spent about nine months in the state without replacement before being moved to Kebbi State on February 20 for another special assignment.
He explained that they submitted their deployment documents to the Kebbi State Police Command after receiving the necessary approval from their superiors.
The officer alleged that while personnel attached to other operational units were regularly replaced, members of his team were repeatedly left behind despite several complaints.
He said they were promised a change of personnel but continued working at the same location for several additional months.
The officer also claimed that some personnel who arrived in Kebbi after his team had already been deployed were replaced, while the original officers remained at their duty post.
He disclosed that 10 officers were initially deployed from Zamfara to the operational location in Kebbi State.
However, one died during an operation, while another reportedly became seriously ill and was taken home. Their number later reduced to eight before another officer left after receiving information that a new squadron would be established.
This left seven officers at the base.
The officer further explained that when arrangements were made to establish the new squadron, authorities reportedly directed each squadron to provide 15 personnel.
However, he alleged that their operational base, identified as Base 42, supplied only seven additional officers instead of the required 15, bringing their total number to 14.
The development reportedly increased their frustration as they continued waiting for their replacement.
The officer appealed to police authorities to ensure that the required number of personnel was deployed so that those who had spent several months on the assignment could return home.
He said the officers were exhausted and needed to be transferred to another location after spending an extended period on special duties.
The complaints have raised concerns about the welfare of police personnel deployed to security operations in troubled parts of the country, particularly regarding their working conditions, family separation and rotation arrangements.
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