By LEKAN AGBOOLA, Ilorin –
The new Kwara State Commissioner of police, CP Paul Odama has declared his willingness to work with both state and non-state security personnel to police the state with all available human and material resources to ensure peace reigns supreme in the state.
CP Odama who disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the state police command headquarters in Ilorin, urged would-be law breakers and criminal elements in the State to pack their baggage and relocate to where they felt is safe to carry on with their lawless activities
He said ” I want to reiterate that I am in Kwara State to work to sustain and even better the already established peace and security already in existence in the state.
“To fight crimes and criminality, enforce all laws within the provisions of the Nigerian constitution and rule of law, to democratically police the state and respect the fundamental rights of the citizens and residents alike, in line with global best policing practice.
“My policing mandate also includes the provision of a level playing field for all political tendencies in Kwara State irrespective of party affiliation, region or tribe, as you may all know, the police is apolitical, the people of the state as a whole are our constituency, hence we promise to discharge our duties with clear conscience and fear of God.
“The Command is also ready to advance the community policing mantra of the Inspector- General of Police, Alhaji Usman Alkali Baba NPM fdc for effective community participation in the arduous task of emplacement of a crime free society.
“The Command is not unaware that, officially, political party campaigns have started, as such, the Command in conjunction with other sister Services have concluded plans to emplace adequate security for all political parties to make their campaigns free of any intimidation across the length and breath of the State.
“Permit me to use this medium to assure the youth in the State, especially students, of the Command’s determination to work with the youth, ‘respect their rights and continue to protect them at all times. However, we will also expect the youth to see the police as a partner in the process of creating a Police Force we all yearn for, hence, we need their cooperation and support in this regard.
For the umpteenth time, I want to reiterate that, policemen have no right to randomly stop any citizen and demand for his telephone handsets for search, except perhaps, the phone is a proceed of crime or for purposes of investigation and that should be in the police station, my policemen are well aware of this fact, any policeman caught in this illegal act would be dealt with accordingly.
“Finally, I want to solicit the cooperation of all and sundry to always make use of our emergency telephone lines already in the public space to report incidences that require police actions within their areas as fast as possible, this would give the Command an opportunity to provide robust service delivery to the people.” He said.
Leave a Reply