IGP meets Strategic Police Managers, reels out police achievements, warns against attacks on police, citizens
By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The Acting Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, on Tuesday August 8, 2023, met with Strategic Police Managers of the Nigeria Police Force which comprises members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police, and Heads of other Tactical and Operational Units of the Force
The meeting was held at the Goodluck Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)Olumuyiwa Adejobi, (mnipr, mipra,) the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the primary objective of the meeting with the IGP was to meticulously analyze the existing policing strategies, discern areas necessitating enhancement, and effectively address these crucial aspects.
At the meeting, the IGP disclosed the salient achievements recorded by the Force within the short period of one and a half month as a result of the deployment of a series of covert and overt operations targeted at smashing criminal gangs terrorizing communities all over the country.
“This has led to the arrest of a total of 986 armed robbery suspects, 390 kidnap suspects including bandits, 848 suspects of homicide, 297 suspects for possession of prohibited firearms, 517 suspects of rape, defilement and other sexual offences, 874 suspected cultists, and 5,328 suspects for various other offences.
“Similarly, a total of 639 firearms of various calibres including AK47 and other assault rifles, 4,441 assorted ammunition, and 266 stolen vehicles were recovered nationwide while a total of 363 kidnap victims were rescued unhurt and reunited with their families and loved ones.
The IGP commended all Commands of the Force for the professional manner in which the recent protest by the citizens and the organized Labour was managed such that no single casualty was recorded while the protest lasted. He also commended Nigerian citizens and the Labour leaders for conducting themselves in the most peaceful manner, stressing that the management strategy employed will be adopted as a template for operational control of protests across the country henceforth.
He similarly warned that the Force would not condone deliberate and unprovoked harassment, attacks, and unwarranted killings of Police Officers who have dedicated themselves to securing the lives and property of all and sundry and citizens, noting that ‘Enough is Enough’.
He added that such an attack is tantamount to an attack on the state and would be met with commensurate and lawful force going forward.
All State Commissioners of Police were tasked to keep round-the-clock security surveillance at all government warehouses as well as strategic storage facilities to prevent a repeat of the incidence at Adamawa State.
Assuring that the Force is poised to provide all necessary support to the Federal Government as it seeks workable solutions and succor to the present economic situation in the country, and following the recent events in the ECOWAS Sub-Region, the IGP charged the Strategic Police Managers to ensure the maintenance of stability along the borderlines.
The IGP also urged members of the public to engage the police on suspicious individuals, groups, or activities in their communities by availing the Force with actionable intelligence, assuring the confidentiality of such processes even as the Force takes necessary steps to avert the crimes.
“If you see something, endeavor to say something”‘ the IGP charged.
