Nigeria’s police leadership has reiterated its commitment to upholding the Federal Government’s decision on the long-standing issue of state police, as affirmed by Inspector-General Olukayode Egbetokun.
Lagos State played host to a high-level police delegation on Monday, as Deputy Inspector-General Abiodun Alabi, coordinator for the South-West, shared the Inspector-General’s views during a working visit.
In response to the widespread debate and varying perspectives on the issue, the force opted to publicly declare its stance, providing much-needed clarity.
The police chief exhorted his officers to remain committed to their constitutional mandate, steadfastly discharging their responsibilities with professionalism and integrity.
Inspector-General Egbetokun issued a clarion call to his officers, urging them to embody the highest standards of discipline, diligence, and respect for human rights, as they discharge their duties with unwavering professionalism.
He warned the personnel against misuse of firearms, stressing that they should be used responsibly in strict accordance with the law.
On the mental and physical health of the men, the I-G said the officer in charge of police medical had been given orders to carry out mental and psychological tests on personnel for better performance.
Egbetokun said the force was already working with some consultants on befitting accommodation for the officers and men, stressing that very soon the personnel would access their own homes.
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The police chief warned his officers and men against rivalry with other security agents, stressing that Nigerian police alone cannot provide the needed security for Nigerians.
He charged them to always work harmoniously with other security agencies to provide good security for all Nigerians.
On cultism in Lagos State, Egbetokun urged the men to be proactive by reaching out and engaging the youths in the areas of their command to lecture them on the dangers of cultism.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, who welcomed the DIG to the command, said all security architecture put in place in collaboration with stakeholders had brought down crime rate in the state.
“It is, however, gratifying to note that since the introduction of people-centred, collaborative, and cooperative crime prevention strategies by the commissioner of police, crime and criminal activities in the state have drastically decreased.
“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 head of police operations in Lagos reaffirmed to the visiting DIG that the current high-intensity campaign against crime would be unwavering, driving forward with unrelenting determination to reclaim the state from criminal control.
ATN, New York, reports that the DIG touched down in Lagos, the South-West’s commercial nerve center, marking the inaugural leg of his working visit to the region.
The DIG’s visit to six South-West states is a culmination of the Inspector-General’s mandate for all deputy inspectors-general to personally assess the operational readiness and effectiveness of police commands across the country.