Date: 2017-03-13

The fate of over 5,000 Peace Corps trainees in Kwara State hangs in the balance as the Kwara State Commandant; Lukman Adelowo informed this medium at the weekend that he is yet to get directives from the Inspector General of Police (IG), Abubakar Idris to re-open the camp.

Recall that the Peace Corps camp in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of the state was invaded and closed by policemen following directives from the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Olusola Amore, two weeks ago.

Adelowo in an interview with our reporter on Friday said he could not call the Peace Corps recruits to camp as earlier promised following his failure to secure authorisation letter from the IG.

Adelowo disclosed that all efforts of officials of the Kwara State Peace Corps to secure a permit from the office of the IG in Abuja last Monday and Tuesday proved abortive.

"We are yet to get directives from Abuja. We tried our best on Monday and Tuesday but we could not make any headway, this is why we couldn't call the cadets to return to camp. We want a clear picture first from the Inspector-General of Police," he said.

The Commandant however assured that the date of resumption will soon be communicated to the trainees. "We will surely return to camp, and date and time will be communicated to everyone. We just want all our trainees to pay attention to news in both the print and electronic media.

"Our association is for peace and that we will surely ensure in our society. This is why we're acting peacefully with security operatives in the state." Meanwhile, the Kwara State Police Command has insisted that the Peace Corps camp in the state remains illegal and will remain closed until directive is communicated down from the headquarters in Abuja.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi in an interview with this medium yesterday said that, "The camp remains shut as we are yet to get directives from Abuja."

Some of the Peace Corps trainees who spoke with this medium in separate interviews expressed their displeasure over the reschedule of their training.

"I am surprised that this is happening after paying N40, 000 for kits and seminar. It was just like a movie when we were chased out of camp. I think there should be an agreement between the police and other stake holders before we embarked on the trip," a trainee who does not want her name in print lamented.

Also, another trainee who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the closure of the camp as unfortunate. According to him, "there shouldn't be any such occurrence in a democratic state." He added that though the police are doing their job, there should however be consideration to reopen the camp two weeks after closure.

Recall that this medium reported how the Commissioner of Police in the state, Olusola Amore ordered the closure of the Peace Corps orientation camp in Offa over alleged security breach.

The commissioner, who spoke through Okansanmi noted that the move became imperative to avoid breeding of another set of insurgent group in the country. Okansanmi stressed that if 5,000 cadet officers are to be trained by the Peace Corps, the state police command must be fully notified.

"We don't know such training is going on in Offa, how can you be training over 5,000 youths without the knowledge of the police command, it will be very unreasonable of us to allow such camp to continue, how would unauthorised security hands be giving training without carrying us along."