Commissioner of Police, Ondo State, Lawal Adebowale, has warned criminals to repent or relocate: “It will be too hot for them to operate. We have arrested 17 suspected armed robbers, kidnappers and cultists.”
He spoke at the Inspector General of Police [IGP] conference in Abuja: “My vision is to reconfigure the security architecture of state to ensure efficiency and effectiveness, personnel to be professional and respect the fundamental rights of the citizens. Our aims to assess the operational effectiveness of the units, identify challenges and implement effective solution.
“The command will imbibe community policing by showing commitment to professionalism. We have improved our relationship with members of the public. Ondo is calm and safe. The command has put in place adequate security arrangement in liaison with other security agencies to protect life and property.
“Members of the public should be vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest security agency. We will continue to intensify efforts in combating crime through proactive policing, intelligence gathering and swift response to distress call.
“Officers are warned to shun corruption and illegal duty. They should cultivate good relationship with the public. They should dress decently and be hardworking. We are here to serve the public. My door is open to receive complaints and vital information from the public.
“It is my commitment to build a more effective and accountable police force that enjoys the trust and confidence of the Nigerian public. It will be too hard for hoodlums to carry out operation to terrorise innocent citizens.
“I visited some blackspots on the Akure-Ore Expressway, Akure-Owo Expressway and Akure-IIesa Expressway. The command carried out massive raids on criminals’ hideouts especially along Akure-Owo Expressway.
“Operatives arrested suspected armed robbers terrorising Akure and Owo axis. We are recovered some dangerous from the scenes of crime. We raided criminals’ hideouts in Akure axis and recovered some dangerous weapons from them.
“Depuy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Oluseyi Okenla, has been coordinating Tactical team Area Commands Anti-Kidnapping, Anti-Cultism and Tactical intelligence Response squads. They have stepped up surveillance and patrols to nip in the bud any untoward situation.
“This will deter crime and maintain order, which enable them to smoke out criminals from their hideouts. Officers should be professional and warned against use of torture in conducting investigation on suspects. We want to appreciate the state government in supporting us with operational vehicles. The Anti-Kidnapping Squad arrested some suspected kidnappers in Akure and Ore.
“IGP Olukayode Egbetokun’svision is to fight crime and criminality, uphold justice, fairness, protect human dignity and restore standard and values. There will be proactive response sgainst criminal activities. We will engage in robust and effective human and technical intelligence gathering process to enhance the capacity of personnel.
“Officers should conduct themselves with decorum and be at alert. The command will harness all available opportunities. We need the support of monarchs, community leaders, students and stakeholders to give us useful information, which will enable the command and other sister agencies to work together to flush hoodlums out of the state.”