#TrackNigeria – The Assistant Inspector General of Police zone II, AIG Adeleye Oyebade,mni has said that the police have realized the need to upgrade the policing of border communities.He disclosed this during a one-day official visit to Saki Area of Oyo State on Wednesday.
Speaking while addressing the audience, AIG oyebade said that the visit afforded him “an ample opportunity to assess security especially at the border. Be informed that it is the desire and the willingness of the President and the Inspector –General of police to put an end to the spate of kidnapping, banditry and other heinous crimes in the country.
He added, “In doing this, it is our resolve having realized the need to effectively upgrade how to Police our border communities and constantly check infiltration of criminals into the country. It is also our determination to ensure control of illegal arms proliferation through the border.
He said further that, “Apart from policing the border, we are also adding impetus to our security aims and objectives. Given necessary logistic support, we plan to carry out aerial surveillance using well equipped modern helicopter.
“We are also determined to police the water fronts. This is because, intelligence has revealed that criminals after perpetrating heinous crimes on the hinterland, often escape through the waterways.
“I will like to reiterate the concern and commitment of the police hierarchy in addressing security challenges in some parts of the country.
He recalled that “Just recently, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, NPM, mni supported the zone with some vehicles and additional personnel to man strategic flashpoints where there have been security challenges lately. The successes recorded by our operatives under the Operation Puff Adder activities, and the gains of the Zone XI Security Stakeholders’ Forum must be sustained, in re-assuring all and sundry that protection of lives and property of the citizenry is our priority.”
Why community policing matters to us
Oyebade also said the police are embracing community policing model.According to the AIG, “We have embraced, as part of our policing strategy, community policing as a policing model. Community policing encompasses public partnership, intelligence gathering and interagency collaboration. Every police officer has been properly informed to imbibe the philosophy and principles of this policing model.
“Therefore as police officers we must not distance ourselves from the community we serve. We must at all times engage relevant stakeholders in the community in the interest of peace and security. I wish to call on our revered traditional rulers, chiefs, community leaders, individuals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to collaborate with the police so as to serve them better.
“The collaboration we seek should manifest in form of readiness to give to the Police useful and credible information about activities of criminals and other undesirable elements who inflict unimaginable physical, psychological and emotional pains in others. Be rest assured that whatever useful information given to the police will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
He revealed that the police in the zone “have built a robust, mutual relationship with the public over time. The collaboration has helped immensely as this has resulted into various achievements recorded in Ondo, Osun and Oyo States. Achievements in the area of arrest of kidnap and armed robbery suspects, arrest of suspected ritualists, recovery of large chunk of arms and ammunition, stolen vehicles and other valuable property from criminals thereby putting a smile once again on the faces of victims who had lost hope of ever recovering their lost property
After listing the crime-busting efforts so far, he added that the “plethora of achievements we have recorded within the short period of our assumption of duty are just a tip of the iceberg. We will do more.”
Concluding his speech Oyebade said “We will continue to protect you and your valuable property. Just play your part, and we will continue to play our part”
