Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has assured of a force capable of confronting violent crimes and restoring peace in the country.

He made the promise at the ongoing conference and retreat for senior police officers in Owerri, Imo State.

The IGP hinted that the establishment of a Special Intervention Squad (SIS), a standby team of specially trained officers to rapidly intervene in major incidents, remained key in effectively containing insecurity in the country.

He said: “The police force under my watch is poised to confront the menace of violent crimes in our country, restore calm to troubled areas and engender an atmosphere of peace, safety and security, which will promote national economic growth and prosperity.

“The establishment of a Special Intervention Squad (SIS), a standby team of specially trained officers to rapidly intervene in major incidents, which was immediately announced on my assumption of office, is considered an immediate priority in this effort.

“The squad will be deployed in each command to deal with the state’s salient security challenges. Concrete steps have already been taken to facilitate the smooth take-off of the SIS in 10 pilot states, already identified based on the recent violent crime assessment carried out in all the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, while the other 27 states will immediately follow”.

“I wish to express gratitude to Mr. President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces for his kind approval for the specialised training (starting next month) of the initial team of instructors for the SIS.”

Egbetokun continued: “The theme of this year’s conference and retreat, ‘Fostering Economic Prosperity, Social Integration and Political Development through Enhanced Internal Security Mechanism’, is derived from the policing vision of the new police leadership in the country, emplacing a professionally competent, service driven, rule of law compliant and citizen friendly police force, which will support the agenda of government in fostering economic recovery and growth, as well as social integration and political development of Nigeria.”