IGP tasks states on credible officers for community policing

Edo gov pleads with military to monitor Benin-Auchi road

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali, yesterday, urged state governments and police officers to ensure that persons engaged for community policing are people with proven character and integrity.

Alkali said the Federal Government has adopted community policing to check crime and criminality, adding that the practice has become obtainable in most parts of the world.

He said this when he addressed officers and men of the command, during a visit to Edo State where he said statistics showed reduction in the level of crime in some parts of the country compared to when he first assumed office.

“Statistically, what we have in the South-South, South East and even South-West has changed from what we met and we are also doing much to improve the situation in other parts of the country.

“If every state is fighting crime like Edo State, most of us will be resting by now. However, there is still room for improvement, because if we relax while fighting crime, crime will come back in a different form, so, I urge you to continue.

“As officers, you must adhere to the calling of your profession. You must differentiate between professionalism and ordinary policing. Community policing is a model the Federal Government adopted and it is the same practice globally,” he stated.

On kidnapping along the Benin-Auchi-Okene road, Alkali said: “We are trying to see what we can do all over the country. There are places that are even worse than here, we are not saying it is Uhuru yet, but we are saying that there is room for improvement.”

Following the IGP’s comments, Governor Godwin Obaseki appealed to the Nigerian Army to set up a base in crime-prone areas of the state, especially on the Benin-Auchi road axis.

He made the appeal, yesterday, when the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Farouk Yahaya, and other senior officers visited him at the Government House in Benin City.

Earlier, Obaseki commended the police for its efforts and commended the collaboration between the police and other security agencies in fighting crime in the state.

He also informed Yahaya, who was on a separate visit, that the state was having security challenges such as kidnapping, especially in the Benin–Auchi axis.

“We have military formations in Edo South, Auchi and Agenegbode in Edo North Senatorial District. Because the 120 kilometres stretch between them do not have any military presence. And so, it has been difficult for the military to respond either from the South or North whenever there is an incident,” he said.