• Reads riot act to officers
• Warns criminals in Ondo, Ekiti

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) of Zone 17, comprising Ondo and Ekiti states, Williams Adebowale, at the weekend, said that the political crisis in Ondo State was being closely monitored to prevent chaos.

He assured residents of both states that the police were on top of the security situation.

Adebowale, who assumed office following the redeployment of his predecessor, AIG Ebong E. Ebong, stated this while familiarising himself with Crime Reporters in Akure.

He said: “I believe things are back to normal, but the command is monitoring the situation and our intelligence officers are on ground to ensure that they prevent a crisis whenever there is a lapse.

“Whether we like it or not, some people benefit from crisis, and they are the ones that want the crisis to happen. So, it is for us to ensure that we don’t allow it.

“We are preparing for the 2024 governorship election in Ondo, and we will make sure the environment is peaceful for every political party during campaigns or the election. We will monitor the politicians and the political parties and their activities.”

He, however, warned that acts capable of denting the image of the Police Force would not be allowed.

“We will continue to look inward to ensure that we don’t allow bad eggs in the police or sweep under the carpet where officers have done things unprofessionally.

“It is the directive of the Inspector-General of Police that we must always ensure that we keep tabs on our boys and make sure they are punished when they misbehave or commit any offence against indiscipline. It is a challenge for every other person to expose any colleague who misbehaves for punishment,” Adebowale said.

The former Commissioner of Police in Oyo State assured that Zone 17 under his watch would collaborate with the Western Security Network Agency, code-named Amotekun, and other security agencies in the states.