Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has said the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers was a major challenge to the Nigeria Police Force.

Idris made the statement when members of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, saying kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, terrorism, militancy, economic sabotage and religious extremism were other security challenges confronting the police.

He said the police had handled 108 kidnapping cases in June, 111 in July, 84 in August and 77 in September, saying kidnapping had become a trend in the country where young persons were actively participating.

According to him, the existing 300,000 police workforce was inadequate to effectively police the country, saying the country was far behind the UN standard of one policeman to 400 persons.

Idris said the Nigeria police needed more than the 10,000 men being recruited to bridge the manpower gap, saying the police needed to increase the strength of the rank and file.

He said inadequate funding and manpower had been the bane of the police, adding that adequate funding was needed for the police to effectively discharge its mandate.

On welfare of policemen, Idris said the police wanted to exit the present pension arrangement to enable it support its men after service, saying the management had written to President Muhammadu Buhari to allow police retirees to have access to health insurance scheme after retirement.

Idris said if adequate funds were allocated to the police, it would perform optimally.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Abu Ibrahim said the committee would consider the request of the police force.