Adebanjo, while speaking in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, also hinted that the Nigeria Police Force is working to bridge the manpower gap that has remained a serious issue in the matter of adequate personnel in the force.
He said the lowest crime rate in Ekiti was hinged on the high level of professionalism existing among his men in the state.
Adebanjo, who addressed a stakeholders meeting while on a working visit to Ekiti Command, reiterated that the Nigeria Police was not toying with the protection of human rights, pointed out that the proposal for the recruitment of 30,000 policemen annually would take care of the shortfall in the personnel in some state commands, including Ekiti.
He said: “As we speak now, 10,000 people are undergoing training and the
proposal is that 30,000 will be trained yearly for the next ten years. So, we have a work plan and we must not allow a few criminals to destroy the beautiful name and respect Nigeria commands globally.”
DIG Adebanjo had addressed officers, men and stakeholders in the Ekiti Command during a stakeholders meeting at the Ekiti command headquarters.
The meeting was attended by the officers of the command, led by the CP, Abdullahi Chafe; members of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), community leaders, transport unions’ leaders and some important personalities in the state.
While commending his officers and men for the low crime rate in Ekiti State, DIG Adebanjo said: “The crime rate in Ekiti is very low, in fact, the lowest in the country. The police anywhere in the world can’t do it alone without the cooperation and consent of the people. You need to work with critical stakeholders to achieve a crime-free society.
“The Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, is committed to the task of giving our men incentives. Before now, Inspectors used to spend over 14 years before becoming Superintendent of police, but such has been corrected and so it is with other rank and file positions.
“Apart from promotion, we are working on the housing scheme for our men to be able to own a house after retirement. We are also improving on the medicals, so that our men who sustained injuries in the course of performing their tasks can get the best treatment, and many other incentives.
“Let us do this job conscientiously. Don’t be labeled corrupt officers. This is not good for the image of the force locally and globally. Do this job very well and you will not regret it, because you are doing God’s job and your reward shall surely come.”
Earlier Aduring a courtesy call on the state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, the state government said Ekiti State “unarguably remains the most peaceful in the country despite all odds against it because of the government’s proactive stance on all matters relating to the welfare, peace and security of lives and property of the people.”
Fayose, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, said his administration was passionate about protecting lives and property of the citizenry, which he said “informed the promulgation of the Anti-Grazing Law and the formulation of the security outfit code-named Operation Flush to checkmate criminal activities in the state.”
The governor commended the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Abdulahi Chafe “for his unique strategic leadership style at motivating and mobilizing the rank and file of the police to ensure adequate security.”
He assured that his government would continue to provide all necessary logistics and moral supports for the command’s successful operations.
The Governor called on the DIG to give further enlightenments to officers and men of the force against molestation and violence against the law-abiding citizens of the state while discharging their lawful duties of maintaining law and order and protecting lives and properties.
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