MOGADISHU, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said on Monday that it has kicked off plans to deploy police officers to Hiraan region in south-central Somalia.
AMISOM said its team led by AMISOM Police Operations Coordinator, Daniel Ali Gwambal, visited Beletweyne last week to access ongoing preparations for the deployment of a Formed Police Unit (FPU) to Hiraan region.
"Formerly, we were not able to visit many sites but with the FPU, it will be easier for us. We will be able to visit any scene that has incidents," Gwambal said in a statement released in Mogadishu.
The AMISOM team inspected facilities to be used by the unit comprising 32 Nigerian police officers, who are expected in Beletweyne in the coming weeks.
"The purpose of visiting Beletweyne is to have the on-spot assessment of the facilities that are on ground," said Gwambal.
He added that the team also came to access progress being made, in the mentorship program, by individual police officers who were deployed three months ago.
Haruna Ismail, the Contingent Commander of the Nigerian FPU said the preparations had been completed, adding that the arrival of the team will boost security in the region.
"We are giving them the assurance, we are bringing a well-trained, weapon handling personnel that can withstand any threat and provide security to the personnel on this ground," Ismail said.
The FPU will provide escort to the individual police officers training and mentoring Somali Police in Beletweyne. They will also provide security to AMISOM and its partners.