LAGOS FEBRUARY 12TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has condemned the attitude of elders and people of Kokori community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta state for refusing to fish out the remnants of the kidnap and armed robbery gang of the most wanted man in the state, Kelvin Iburvwie, who was arrested in his Port-Harcourt, Rivers State hotel room two months ago and for making the job difficult for the security operatives drafted to the locality.
Uduaghan who made the condemnation when the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, presented his scorecard to Nigerians at the weekend in Asaba, the state capital, observed that the leaders and elders in the communities who celebrated their children involved in criminal activities only portray their communities in bad light. The governor warned them to desist from protecting criminals or risk being prosecuted as accessories to facts.
According to him, “This is bad, especially when the state is doing all within its power to fight crime.”
He commended the Police for employing community policing in the reduction of crime in Delta State, adding that all the security agencies have ensured that Delta State is safe for people and organizations to carry out their business. Elders and leaders should help to fish out criminals in their communities and should not protect or celebrate criminals because anyone caught doing so will be treated as criminals.”
Speaking further, the governor noted that the state government was not in support of this criminal attitude and would not condone such unwholesome act from any community leader.
Uduaghan commended Abubakar for choosing Delta State for the second presentation of his scorecard, disclosing that the state was happy to host the event.
According to him, “Today, Delta State is safe. Criminal activities have been greatly reduced.
“This is as a result of the collaboration among security agencies in the state.”
Presenting his stewardship and achievements, Abubakar stated that the Federal Government has approved a new Police Pension Board to be managed by the Police as a result of the loss of their N300billion in the previous pension fund.
The Inspector General of Police observed that corruption has been reduced by about 80 per cent in the Nigerian Police force by the removal of road blocks.
“We are doing our very best to ensure that corruption is reduced in the police force. Several police officers have been dismissed from the force as a result of bribery and corruption,” He disclosed.
He explained that when his administration came on board, about 110,000 policemen were due for promotion, adding that 75,000 officers have been promoted while the remaining 35,000 would begin their training for promotion in January 2014.
The IGP stressed the need for Nigerians to cooperate and collaborate with the Police, stating that police officers have been made to obey laws as one of the steps to ensure that they were good enforcers of the law.
According to him: “Enforcers of law must not be seen breaking the law. We ensure attitudinal change and introduced a new code of conduct for the Nigeria Police.”