The Inspector General of Police(IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, has vowed that the police will do everything possible to end kidnapping in Ogun as his official three – day visit to the Gateway State enters the second day on Wednesday, April 17.
IGP Egbetokun noted that though Ogun is one of the least crimes states in the country but stressed that the Force won’t condone the few being committed in the state.
He spoke while addressing security issues raised by stakeholders during a meeting with them at the Police Officer Wives Association (POWA) building within Nigeria Police Force, State Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta as part of his visit to Ogun State.
Earlier during Day one of the visit, he met with governor Dapo Abiodun and he also is expected to visit the four paramount rulers of Egba, Ijebu, Remo and Yewa today and tomorrow (Thursday).
The IGP arrived the command’s headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, yesterday in company of the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) zone ll, Olatoye Durosimi and the state commissioner of police, Abiodun Alamutu and was warmly received by officers and men of the command as well as community leaders, associations, professional groups among others.
Part of his measures to end kidnapping and other crimes in the state include approval for new Police Area Commands in three locations – Ifo, Idiroko and Imeko to address security challenges, especially in border communities while logistics needs of the state Command, he assured, would also be tackled soon.
He said, “I have heard your request for an area command in Ifo and that request is hereby granted, we are not only stop at giving area command to Ifo, we will also give two area commands the two border areas – Idiroko and Imeko.
“On the issue of manpower, lack of vehicles and operational logistics for Ogun state command, I have whispered to the CP that he should give me the list of all the needs of the command and we are going to pay attention to all of them.
“The issue of kidnapping despite the high number of check points along the road and that the border areas are still porous, I want to assure that we are going to address that challenge, the CP is going to work on it.
“Whatever that we need to do to stop kidnapping in Ogun state, we are going to do it. The fact that there are few crimes being committed here and there does not affect the peaceful status of Ogun state.
“There is no state in Nigeria that is free of crime and I still maintain that one of the states that record the least is Ogun state, but that does not mean that we are going to accept the few crimes that are being committed in this state, we going to take appropriate action to ensure that we minimize the crime as much as possible.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu vouched for Ogun as listing among the safest states in Nigeria despite its peculiar circumstances in terms of its proximity to Lagos State, being Nigerian border state to neighbouring Republic of Benin, housing the highest number of religious centres and tertiary institutions in the country among other issues that predisposed her to be home to the good, bad and ugly.
Alamutu also drew the attention of the IGP to the slight shortfall in manpower and said the IGP’s visit would not rejig crimes fighting and prevention strength of officers and men for a better policing of the state, but also find a solution to it
He pledged the Ogun command’s loyalty and commitment to the ideals and vision of the force.
