Police Games aim to produce Nigeria’s future champions — FPRO

Taofeek Lawal

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has said the target of its Biennial Police Games (BIPOGA) is targeted at producing more talents who will win laurels and bring pride to the country in international competitions.

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed this in an exclusive interview with Sporting Tribune on Tuesday in Abuja.

The FPRO said apart from producing world beaters for Nigeria, the Games also focused on promoting camaraderie among police personnel and also relating with the members of the public to enhance community relations.

“The Games are largely to produce another round of champions, world champions, not for the Police but for Nigeria. We have done this in the past. For people who might not remember, Deputy Commissioner of Police Chioma Ajunwa (rtd) was discovered during one of these Police Games.

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“Superintendent of Police Sunday Bada, Superintendent of Police Samuel Peters, Deputy Superintendent of Police Kikelomo Ajayi and many more were discovered during these Games.

“The Games in Asaba are expected to improve fitness among our police officers, improve teamwork and also improve community collaboration. There’s a reason it is not holding in Police Colleges. It’s holding amongst the people, moving from city to city, because we want the people to see us at our best, not in core policing in sports.

“We want them to be spectators, we want them to see us, we want to mingle with them, we want to use their stadium, stay in their hotels, eat their food, community integration, fitness and teamwork,” the Police spokesman told Sporting Tribune.

Speaking on motivation put on ground for the athletes, Hundeyin added, “They are motivated. I don’t know if you are talking about money, maybe not, but they get all the time they need for training, they get all the institutional support they need to go even outside the country to participate in events. This event too, gratifying if I must say. They get institutional support in terms of welfare. Their transport to Asaba was on the Police, their feeding in Asaba is on the Police, and their coming back too. So, they get as much support as the Police can afford to give.”

The Games, in its 15th edition, is currently taking place in Asaba, the Delta State capital, started on Saturday, February 14th and will run through Saturday, 21st, 2026, with the theme ‘Beyond the Badge: Excellence in Action’.

The Games is holding at the Stephen Keshi Stadium and other venues. Police athletes from zonal commands and the Force Headquarters are competing in 37 sports, which include, among others, athletics, football, boxing, wrestling, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting, volleyball, shooting, cycling, and mixed martial arts.