Ahead Yuletide, Warri commander reads riot act to criminals

The Warri Area Commander of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Muhammad Garba, has, ahead of the Yuletide, warned all shades of criminals in Warri and environs to repent or be ready for toucher times.

He told select journalists in Warri, Delta State that he had instructed his men to embark on further aggressive raids and patrols of criminal hideouts and flashpoints to clear his area of criminality.

Garba, who frowned on alleged extortion and other unprofessional conducts by his men, said he had specifically instructed the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Heads of Departments (HoDs) to lead the patrols to criminals hideouts and smoke them out.

Acknowledging a slight reduction in crime rate in his area, Garba also warned his men to desist from searching the personal effects of members of the public such as mobile phones, iPads, laptops and wallets.

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“I have warned my men that they do not have the right to search people’s telephones, that is people’s domain, you don’t have the right to search people’s phones or laptops.

“The crime wave is down a bit; we raided black spots, there is aggressive patrol and raiding and many people have been charged to court,” he disclosed.

Garba also explained that he was ready to work with members of the public who are willing to furnish the police with useful information on criminal elements and their hideouts.

”We are here to serve the people; we are not masters; we are servants of the people. I am appealing to members of the public to give us useful information.

“I have sent a series of signals to DPOs. I have also sent signals to HoDs that raiding should continue. Patrols should continue, but not to extort money from the public,” he warned.

Meanwhile, ACP Garba, while reeling out some of the positives of the raids,  disclosed that a popular nightclub in Warri was recently raided, following tip-off from  concerned members of the public.

He said the raid led to the confiscation of assorted hard drugs such as cocaine, heroine and Indian hemp as well as arrests of culprits, admonishing parents to keep an eye on their wards.

 

Nigerian Tribune