By Christopher Oji
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, has said that the decision of the Federal Government on State Police is final.
Egbetokun said the police must adhere strictly to whatever decision the federal government takes on the issue of state police.
The IGP, who spoke yesterday during a visit to the Lagos State Police Command, noted that the Force decided to clear the air on the issue, in view of many debates and opinions on the matter.
“The president is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, so whatever the Presidency and his management teams decide, the police will abide by it”.
Egbetokun, who spoke through the Coordinating Deputy Inspector General of Police, South-West, Mr. Abiodun Alabi, charged men and officers of the command to be disciplined, hard working, and to respect human rights by carrying out their duties in the best professional ways.
Alabi, who read the riot act to the men and officers of the police, warned against the misuse of firearms, noting that such should be used responsibly in strict accordance with the law. He said the force would not take the issue of the state of mind of the officers lightly as the IGP has ordered the officer in charge of the police medical department to carry out a mental and psychological evaluation test on the personnel of the Force.
He said the force was already working with some consultants to build befitting accommodations for the officers and men, adding that, very soon, the personnel would access their own homes.
He warned against rivalry with other sister security organisations, stressing that the Nigeria Police alone can not provide the needed security for Nigerians.
He charged them to always work harmoniously with other security agencies, with a view to providing security for Nigerians. On cultism in Lagos State, Alabi urged the men to be proactive by reaching out and engaging the youths in the areas of their command by organising lectures on the danger of cultism.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Adegoke Fayoade, who welcomed the DIG to the command, said all the security architectures put in place, in collaboration with stakeholders, have brought down the crime rate in the state.
“It is, however, gratifying to note that since the introduction of people centred, collaborative and co-operative, crime prevention strategies by the commissioner of police, Lagos State, crime and criminal activities in the state has reduced drastically to a tolerable level.
“The strategies adopted include: Prevention strategies e.g. (Intelligence raids of criminal hideouts, cordon and search) etc; intelligence led policing; use of modern technology device(s) (scientific aid) to track down dangerous criminals e.g, kidnappers, armed robbers, car hijackers etc; extensive and intensive patrol and community policing strategy, amongst others,” he said.
The police boss in Lagos reassured the visiting DIG that the current tempo in crime fighting shall be sustained until the state is rid of all criminal elements. DIG Alabi said he was in Lagos Police Command as the first state in the South West for his working visit. He said he would be visiting six states in the region, a visit ordered by the IG for all DIGs, to carry out on-the-spot assessment in all commands.