Insecurity: IGP holds strategic meeting with senior police officers

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Dr Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, held a strategic security meeting with senior police officers from the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police and above on Thursday to address insecurity in the country.

The monthly meeting, which had in attendance six Deputy Inspectors-General DIGs of Police, 38 Assistant Inspectors-General AIGs of Police, 88 Commissioners of Police CPs, and five Deputy Commissioners-General DCPs of Police, was held at the Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters Abuja.

Addressing the senior police officers, the IGP said that the meeting was being called to brainstorm on strategic and vertical measures that ‘help the police force in its operational strategies to combat crimes and criminality in all parts of the country.

He further stated that the meeting was to reflect on the shortcomings of the lead internal security agency after seven weeks from the last strategic meeting, adding that it is also to showcase achievements recorded by the Force.

According to him, “The meeting is also to review the plans for Police Week and an award ceremony for police officers who exhibited selflessness in service and the strategies to combat collaboratively the crimes that have witnessed a spike in their resurgence in recent times.

Speaking on the achievements of the police, the IGP stated that significant strides had been recorded in the war against banditry, kidnapping, and other crimes by the police.

He said that in the aftermath of the launch of the Special Intervention Squad SIS by the police authorities, the officers arrested a notorious kidnapper, Bello Mohammed, in Kaduna, who was arrested with cash of two million two hundred and fifty thousand in a hotel.

Another notable achievement recorded by the Police Force, according to the IGP, was the arrest of thirteen suspects who allegedly were the masterminds of the recent killing of two monarchs in Ekiti State, southwest Nigeria.

Moreover, he said that following a distress call to the police, ten kidnapped victims were rescued by the Rivers State Police Command led by CP Olatunji Disu after a Coaster passenger bus was kidnapped and taken into the bush by hoodlums along Port Harcourt-Owerri Road.

He commended the senior officer and other gallant officers for the exceptional performance of duty and enjoined other Police officers to replicate such gallantry in their various zones and command formations

The Police boss attributed these achievements to proactive leadership of the Police management team and pointed out that 172 reported cases of kidnappings have been traced and some of the kidnappers arrested

Some of the arms and ammunition said to have been recovered from the suspects arrested by the police include 186 firearms, 41 vehicles, axes, cutlasses, and some camouflage uniforms, among other things.

The IGP assured of the determination and unrelentless effort by the police to rid the nation of all forms of crime and criminality in the interest of national security.

He also assured that the Nigeria Police Force is committed to the protection of the lives and properties of all citizens of the country.