…targets Zero Crime Rate
…meets stakeholders including Ewi of Ado Ekiti on effective crime control
Deputy Inspector-General of Police, in-charge of FCID, FHQ, Abuja and the coordinating DIG of South West Geo-political Zone, DIG Abiodun Alabi has charged Officers and Men of the Ekiti State Police Command to always carry out their job with utmost decency and respect the fundamental human rights of the people irrespective of the situation.
DIG Alabi who spoke during an engagement with stakeholders in Ado Ekiti as part of his familiarization tour of the Southwest Zone affirmed that Zero Crime is possible only,if the police uphold professionalism and build mutual relationship with the public.
According to him, no police force can achieve much in the fight against crime without the support of the public, hence he directed commissioners of Police to ensure constant engagement with stakeholders in their domains.
He revealed that the Nigeria Police was also keying into the use of ICT to fight crime while noting that the welfare of officers would be given priority to boost their morale to give their best.
His words, “My coming to Ekiti state is to complete my assignment in southwest geo political zone.
“My mission is in compliance with the Director Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, who directed all DIPs in charge of the six geopolitical zones to embark on tour across the six geo political zones and access the strategic deployment of our arsenals in crime fighting and see how our officers are doing their jobs.
“This is to enable us know the challenges they are facing in the course of their duty so that they can be addressed appropriately, so that their capacity and flexibility will be enhanced in delivering good services to the public.
“It’s not yet over, technological improvement is more essential. Gadgets like drones that will gather information for us, that will dig into kidnappers hideout will help to deal wish them instead of us rescuing victims.
“Technology is very important, we will definitely migrate to imbibe the technological advances. It’s obvious that we can not effectively utilize our policing work without involving technological devices to assist us.
“We are not shying away from the usage of drones, we are going to get used to it”.
In his address of welcome, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, CP Akinwale Adeniran said the command had successfully reduced to the barest minimum the rate of crime in the state but complained over the shortage of manpower which the DIG said would soon become a thing of the past.
He said:”I wish to intimate the DIG that the command under my leadership has successfully many times tamed the activities of criminal elements across the State, and consequently, creating an enabling environment for the good people of Ekiti State through the adoption and Implementation of the IGP’s Community Policing Strategy.
“I want to state here that in addition to the challenges of inadequate manpower and logistics confronting the command, there is the additional problem of incessant transfer of personnel out of the command, both from the Force Headquarters and Zonal levels. In this wise, I wish to make a passionate appeal to the DIG to help in stemming the tide. The command needs more hands than the strength at its disposal, in order to sustain the peace being witnessed in the state and even do better.
“The Command has been unarguably adjudged as one of the most peaceful states in the country This fact does not come by chance, but can be attributed to the commitment, dedication and dexterity of the personnel with the attendant partnership and cooperation of the good people of Ekiti state being the Fountain of Knowledge.
The DIG later paid homage to the Ewi of Ado, Oba Adeyemo Adejigbe where he sought the support of the monarch for the police in the fight against crime.