IG vows tough times for kidnappers in Ogun

Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Tuesday, promised tougher time for kidnappers and other criminals disturbing the peace of Ogun State.

The IG also approved the immediate creation of additional Area Commands in the Ifo, Imeko and Ipokia areas of the state.

Egbetokun, who arrived at the command’s headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, in the company of the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) zone ll, Olatoye Durosimi, and the state commissioner of police, Abiodun Alamutu, charged officers of the command to step up their effort in fighting crime in the state.

Addressing stakeholders and the rank-and-file of the police force in the state, the IG called for more support for the police to effectively combat crime in the state.

“I have heard your request for an area command in Ifo, and that request is hereby granted. We are not only stopping at giving area commands to Ifo; we will also give two area commands to the two border areas, Idiroko and Imeko.

“On the issue of manpower, lack of vehicles and operational logistics for Ogun state command, I have whispered to the CP that he should give me the list of all the needs of the command and we are going to pay attention to all of them.

“The issue of kidnapping, despite the high number of checkpoints along the road and that the border areas are still porous, I want to assure you that we are going to address that challenge, the CP is going to work on it.

“Whatever we need to do to stop kidnapping in Ogun State, we are going to do it. The fact that few crimes are being committed here and there does not affect the peaceful status of Ogun State.

“There is no state in Nigeria that is free of crime, and I still maintain that one of the states that records the least is Ogun State, but that does not mean that we are going to accept the few crimes that are being committed in this state; we are going to take appropriate action to ensure that we minimise the crime as much as possible,” the IG said.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, said Ogun remains one of the safest states in Nigeria despite having its fair share of insecurity challenges.

Alamutu said the IGP’s visit would re-energise officers and men for better service delivery.

He promised that the police under Ogun’s command would remain loyal and committed to the ideals and vision of the force.

Egbetokun, during the visit, met with Governor Dapo Abiodun and also commissioned the newly built Ogun State Police Command’s headquarters, the technical intelligence unit, as well as the complaints unit, all within the premises of the command.

The IG is also expected to visit the four paramount rulers of Egba, Ijebu, Remo and Yewa.