The Gambia OIC Secretariat on Monday facilitated the presentation of 900 security gears and apparatuses from the Republic of Turkey to The Gambia Police Force at the headquarters of the Police Intervention Unit in Kanifing.

The modern policing equipment were acquired through the resource mobilization efforts of the Secretariat in preparation for the OIC Heads of State and Government Summit.

The Turkish Ambassador to The Gambia, His Excellency Tolga Bermek presented the items which included protective garments, riot shield, gas masks, gas filters, plastic handcuffs, head guards, batons, among other vital safety and protective equipment.

The Inspector General of The Gambia Police Force, Mr. Mamour Jobe said the security gears will greatly enhance the capacity of The Gambia Police Force in public order management, adding that the great partnership between Gambian and Turkish police forces dates as far back as the first republic.

“We wish to take this opportunity, most sincerely, to thank the Chief Executive Officer of the Gambia OIC Secretariat and the Turkish Embassy for facilitating this donation and other forms of support to the Gambia Police Force,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of the OIC Gambia Secretariat, Mr. Yankuba Dibba thanked the Turkish government through Ambassador Bermek, for its continuous support to the ongoing preparations for the 2022 Summit.

“Since our establishment in April 2018, the OIC Secretariat has benefited immensely from the goodwill of the Republic of Turkey’’, CEO Dibba said.

Mr. Dibba highlighted the capacity building trainings organized by Turkey for the Armed and Security Forces of The Gambia in VIP protection, counterterrorism, fingerprinting techniques, public order management, and cross-border crime management.