LAGOS AUGUST 3RD (URHOBOTODAY)-Following unabated activitees of of pipeline vandals and insecurity in Lagos State, the acting Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, yesterday said the police high command would deploy gunboats and other maritime assets to tackle the problems of insecurity on nations waterways.
Idris, who was on his maiden visit to Lagos, in the company of the Deputy Inspector Generals of Police, Joshak Habilla and Folorunsho Adebanjo, of Operations and ICT Departments respectively, said efforts were on to check criminals operating at creeks and waterways across the nation.
The police high command boss, who said this during interactive meeting with security stakeholders in the state, added that criminal activities on the waterways and creeks were of serious concern to him.
On the security on the waterways he said, “I have assessed the police deployment there and we are trying to see how we can improve on the deployment in the creeks and waterways. We are looking at ways to enhance the marine police. The governor (Akinwunmi Ambode) was talking on the gunboats and patrol boats and this are the areas we are going to tackle on to see that we have more deployment on the creeks and waterways from Lagos up to Calabar, Delta.
“We are going to increase visibility policing to tackle insecurity. It’s one of the preventive measures to stop crime.”
The IGP, who relocated to Lagos, following insecurity in the state, said the gunboats would cover all riverine areas, creeks, waterways from Lagos to Delta and down to Cross River States.
Idris, while addressing stakeholders and policemen in Lagos, also said his administration was determined to tackle violent crimes such as kidnapping, menace of cattle herdsmen and insurgency.
He also said the police management team was synergizing with other sister agencies to achieve the dream of fighting crime to the lowest minimum, adding that the problem of insurgency and vandalism started from minor cultism from local communities.
Idris said he has directed the commissioners of police in all states of the federation to fight the problem of cultism to a stop.
He said, “I believe in policing at the community. Together, we can discuss and find common solutions to problems not just of security but also of safety, the protection of the elderly, the young and vulnerable in our society.
“I believe constant and regular interaction and dialogue with the people will lead to greater accountability, openness and transparency in the conduct of police activities, therefore, my approach will involve constitution, cooperation and multi-agency collaboration.
“It bears reiteration that police are also members of the community who are paid to pay full time attention to the duties that are incumbent on every member of the community. My approach therefore, is aimed at giving reality to the historic proposition that the police are the community and the community is the police.
“We cannot afford to watch our children became victims of drug peddlers, we must protect our children from every exploitation and this is not just the responsibility of the police, but of every member of the society. I call on you to come together either as individuals or as community development associations and work with your police.
“I will encourage you to use all means available to o you to bring topical issues to our attention. In these days of social media and online platforms, you can reach the police via Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, SMS. I have already directed all Divisional Police Offficers to make available their phone numbers and those of their subordinates to members of the public.
“I urge you to work with the police to adopt a problem solving approach to local communal issues, partner the police in deciding local policing priorities and ensure respect for and protection of fundamental human rights. I will encourage you to use all means available to you to bring topical issues to our attention. I expect people to be members of Eminent Persons Forum in all communities. This forum is one of my strategies to police all communities in Nigeria.”
He also urged members of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) to improve the conditions of the police in their areas.
Some of the areas stakeholders highlighted for the IGP to pay attention to in Lagos were on provision of more patrol vehicles, policing waterways, protecting schools and curbing cultism, among others.
On how he intends to partner the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, in tackling the problem of insecurity in the state, the police boss said that could only happen if the CP is ready to follow his directives to the latter.
While addressing his men afterwards, Idris who vowed transparency during his tenure also charged his men to be accountable and operate with integrity.
He also urged his men to stay away from land cases because it’s not a criminally inclined case, adding that all policemen must declare their assets.
He said, “As the protectors of the law, so you should not violate the law. The law said all public officers must declare their asset and since policemen are public officers, they must declare their assets.
“Policemen must be accountable. A policeman without integrity is not a policeman. As policemen, you must always do what is right. For this, we are going to re-activate the X-Squad so that we can go after corrupt policemen, local and state government employees. As a policeman, you must be contented. Stop misusing your power.”
He would be spending three days in Lagos.