In his efforts to combat crimes in the country, the acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has unfolded plan to set up Special Intervention Squad nationwide.
Egbetokun who was in Ibadan for a stakeholders meeting made this known in his response to request for the establishment of additional mobile police unit by the Chairman of Ibadan Council of Mogajis, Asimiyu Ariori during the meeting that was held at the Oyo Police Command, Headquaters Eleyele on Tuesday.
The IGP who stressed the need for collaboration among the relevant stakeholders said this would assist in effective policing of our various communities
He assured the people of Oyo state of the establishment of the Squad in the state, he also added that the security strategy in the Country is being reviewed for effective policing.
According to him, we are reviewing the security strategy in the Country in line with the new vision of Nigeria Police for effective policing.
“All the Commissioner of Police across the Country are being trained for effective service delivery. During my discussion with the Commissioner of Police, Oyo state, Adebola Hamzat, he told me that his door is opened to the public.”
“If you have issues with any of our officers as there are tendencies that some of them might misbehave, kindly reach out to the senior officers. The goal of the police is to ensure the safety of lives and properties.”IGP Egbetokun said.
The IGP, earlier in his speech while on courtesy visit to the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde in his his office at the state Secretariat, Agodi Ibadan said his visit was to appreciate and thank the Governor for the support and cooperation the Oyo State Command of the police enjoys from him.
He also pleaded for the continuation of the good gesture, noting that the new vision of the Nigeria Police of community policing even demands more from the governors as a tier of government.
He remarked that the state is very strategic when the issue of security is concerned because of its location and antecedents and the topmost hierarchy of the Force always engages in thorough search for the officer to be assigned as the helmsman of the Command in the state.
The IGP further explained that the new vision of the Force would be service driven, compliance with the rule of law, people friendly, adequate response to crime occurrence, to improve community and take the Force to the next level adding that his administration will partner with all relevant stakeholders at all levels, including community leaders to ensure that all parts of the country are well secured.
He said, “Upholding the sanctity of the legal framework of the Nigeria Police Force, tackling the menace of crimes and criminality with the establishment of a specialized Quick Intervention Squad comprising combat ready Police Mobile Force personnel with effective and enhanced training in crisis de-escalation and violent crime reduction strategies.”
“leveraging cutting-edge tools, data analytics, and intelligence networks for a robust and effective human and technical intelligence gathering process that would enhance Police capacity, and strengthened inter-agency collaboration.”
Governor Makinde, who was represented by his Deputy, Barrister Bayo Lawal received the police boss and his delegation by saying, “Community, state and neighbourhood policing is the way to go.State police can exist side by side with the federal police as being done in other parts of the world. Our primary role is to provide security for our people and we shall do that with all sense of responsibility.”
Makinde, who expressed support for state police, noted that the advantages of community policing far outweigh the fear we have against it. There cannot be development without peace.
He said, “Insecurity has created palpable fear in the minds of the people. We hold it a duty to reconfigure our security architecture. We are set to harness the potential of security agencies to rid the region of insecurity.”