From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun Friday met with Police Strategic Managers in Abuja, with a call on them to brace up to drive a professionally competent force, to be hinged on the rule of law.
The IGP has also warned that he would no longer tolerate complacency and indifference from senior officers, just as he has ordered for the establishment of Quick Response Squads to tackle the menace of crimes and criminality head on in the country.
The meeting, which is his first since he was appointed IGP, had in attendance Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), state Commissioners of Police among other senior police officers.
The IGP called on the management team to join him in building a police force that is professionally competent, service driven, rule of law compliant, people friendly and a police force that will effectively support the agenda of government for economic recovery, growth, as well as social and political development of the country.
Addressing the police officers, the IGP, said: ”I am deeply honoured to address this gathering of esteemed senior police managers who represent the backbone of our nation’s policing architecture. Together, we shall embark on a mission to uphold justice, fairness, protect human dignity, and restore standards and values of the Nigeria Police Force. Let me make one thing abundantly clear, the days of complacency and indifference are over. We are no longer mere enforcers of the law, we are the vanguards of justice. It is our duty to ensure that every citizen, regardless of his/her background, feels safe and secure at all times.
“Without mincing words, our nation faces an array of complex security challenges that demands our unwavering commitment and resolve. We stand at a critical juncture where the trust of the people in our institution hangs in the balance. It is our duty to reignite that trust, to be the beacon of hope in times of despair, and to foster an environment where safety and justice are not mere illusions, but the foundations upon which our nation thrives.”