By Muftau Ogunyemi
Sylvester Alabi, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in-charge of South-West, has charged police officers on professionalism to eradicate kidnapping in the zone.
Alabi made the call while addressing the officers and men of the Ondo State command on Friday in Akure.
The DIG said that his visitation was on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to all the zonal DIGs to assess security situations in their respective zone.
Alabi said that the time had come for police officers to engage community and religious leaders to tackle criminality in the society,
He also said fighting crime in the South-West had yielded positive results, but there was the need to do more.
“When something happens unexpectedly, it is the duty of the officer to go back to the drawing board and re-strategise.
“Policing is not a tea party, it is a very serious, tedious, physical and mentally challenged job.
“So, it’s a job that entails total commitment and total dedication, because we owe members of the public a duty to secure their lives and properties.
“Generally, South-West is one of the most peaceful zone we have in the country today, but I don’t want you to be carried away so that you will not get embarrassed.
“So, its time for you to double your efforts and ensure the pocket of occasional kidnapping and occasional armed robbery being experienced becomes a thing of the past.
“We need to sit down and do a serious planning to eradicate completely any incident of kidnapping in Ondo State,” he said.
Alabi, therefore, called on police officers to imbibe the ethics of the job, saying corruption and extortion would not be condoned.
“As police officers, you can do your job and earn a good job without delving into all those unprofessional and unethical conducts.
“I am admonishing you to desist from that and it is better for you to attract goodwill for yourself from well-meaning Nigerians.
“Because if you do your job diligently and show that you a man of integrity, you will be loved by people and gain more confidence and trust from people,” he said.
In his speech, Abiodun Asabi, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in-charge of zone 17, assured the DIG that the zone would continue to fall in line with the agenda of the IGP.
“We are not going to rest on accolades that our zone is the most peaceful in the country, we will continue to push our zone more to be free from any form of criminality,” he said.
In his address, Abayomi Oladipo, Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, appreciated the DIG’s visit, saying that the command would continue to engage officers and men on professional conduct for effective service delivery.
“Our display of professionalism during the governorship primaries in the state came to bare as we were non-partisan and followed the guiding principles as laid down in the electoral act.
“Currently, the command has mapped out plans to ensure that the state is devoid of actions and inactions that can heat up the polity.
Abayomi explained that he had a meeting with political stakeholders and all relevant organisations involved in electoral activities, and called on politicians to warn their supporters against causing chaos in the state. (NAN)
