Somali police have vowed to intensify operations against radicalizations in the country amid fight against al-Shabaab fighters increased.
About 26 police officers from HirShabelle State have completed a training on preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization through enhanced community policing.
The training was conducted by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Muse Yussuf Dhuhulow, the commander of airport police station in Jowhar airport said the training would help the police officers to foil the recruitment, training and radicalization of the youth.
“We are committed and have a responsibility of working closely with the community, especially the elders so that we get to know them well and foil the plans of the terrorists and criminals,” he said.
The AU mission said the police officers drawn across Jowhar and surrounding towns attended the training exercise aimed to equip and enhance the skills of the local police to counter terrorists and stem radicalization, especially of young people.
“With the community policing approach, if the Somali Police Force (SPF) collaborates with the members of the public like we emphasized during the training, it will help to identify problems and sit together to find solutions. This will help bring peace and order in Somali,” AMISOM community policing adviser Daniel Chuks said in a statement released Tuesday evening.
Chuks said participants of the workshop were taken through relevant topics to enhance collaboration with the community since local communities are the target of extremists.
