Alarming crime rates: Reps ask for more police presence in Akoko area of Ondo state

House of Representatives, Nigeria

The House of Representatives ‎ on Wednesday urged the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, to establish its more presence in the Akoko Division area of Ondo state following the increasing crime rate and the inability of the few ill-equipped officers and men on the ground to tackle the security challenges facing the communities in the area.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Hon Olemija Stephen Friday representing Akoko North-East| North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State titled “call to create an Area Command in Akoko and more Divisions of the Nigeria Police Force” in the Federal Constituency.

While moving the motion, the lawmaker lamented Akoko was one of the Divisions of the defunct Western region, before the creation of Ondo state in 1976 and currently, has a population of over 700,000 people spread in four Local Governments of Akoko North East, Akoko North West, Akoko South East and Akoko South West.

According to him, “there is no Area Command of the Nigeria Police in the entire four Local governments in Akoko and there are also not enough Divisional Headquarters in the areas

“There have been persistent agitation by ‎ other big communities. Like Ugbe, Akunu, Arigidi and Ajowa on the need to upgrade their police posts to Divisional headquarters for the protection of lives and properties as the security challenges of the affected communities cannot be effectively tackled by the few ill-equipped men and officers around”, he said.

Following this development, the House resolved that, the Akoko Area Command headquarters should be sited in the present Divisional headquarters at ‎Ikare-Akoko, covering the entire four Akoko Local government.

Other locations are: “Ugbe Divisional Headquarters to be sited at Ugbe-Akoko covering Ugbe, Iboropa, Ise and their environs.

“Akunu Divisional headquarters‎ to be sited at Akunu-Akoko, covering Auga, Ikakumo and their environs.

“Arigidi Divisional headquarters to be sited at Arigidi-Akoko covering Erusu, Ikaram, Gedegede and Iye and Ajowa Divisional headquarters‎ to be sited at Ajowa covering Eriti, Igashi and Ase”, the House resolved.