DETERMINED to stem the rising cases of violent crime in the state, the Edo State Police yesterday kicked off a security action plan, code-named Operation Puff Adder.
Speaking at the event in Benin, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. DanMallam Mohammed, performed the launching, explained that the new crime-fighting outfit was among other things based on the principles​ of community policing, intelligence-led policing, synergy with other security agencies, convoy/motorized patrols, stop and search operations.
Mohammed said that as the gateway to other parts of the country, social activities in Edo are always high resulting in criminal vices like cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery emerged in geometric dimension.
He said: “The contemporary security challenges include insurgency, terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, the proliferation of small and light weapons, herdsmen and farmers clashes, cattle rustling, illicit trade in drugs, human trafficking, armed banditry, cybercrime, and illicit financial flow, etc. These are the evil of our time. The fight against these heinous crimes is a great challenge to our generations.”
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Mr. Dibal Yakadi noted that the initiative was in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar in ensuring a safer environment for Nigerians.
Yakadi who was represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Administration) Emmanuel Effiom, disclosed that Mohammed and has directed that the Operation Puff Adder be launched in all the states to combat crime.
He described Operation Puff Adder as a robust security action plan with massive deployment of trained and motivated personnel, drawn from different security outfits in the police, who are expected to display a high level of discipline and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
He warned criminal activities to desist from committing crime or leave the state, otherwise, they will be arrested and prosecuted.
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