Insecurity: IGP orders deployment of extra police personnel to bandit-hit areas

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has ordered the speedy deployment of extra police personnel, operational automobiles and air help to states affected by banditry throughout the nation.

Disu gave the directive on Wednesday throughout the month-to-month convention with strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force, held on the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Centre, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The police chief additionally disclosed that the Force had arrested 611 suspects for varied offences, together with banditry, terrorism, armed theft, homicide, kidnapping and cultism since its final convention.

According to him, the arrests comprised 218 suspected bandits and terrorists, 85 suspected armed robbers, 129 homicide and culpable murder suspects, 59 suspected kidnappers and 120 suspected cultists.

He additional revealed that police operatives rescued 95 kidnapped victims, recovered 306 assorted firearms, 630 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and 116 stolen automobiles inside the interval below evaluate.

He disclosed that he had directed the speedy settlement of excellent loss of life advantages and entitlements owed to households of deceased cops.

The IGP additionally instructed Commissioners of Police to personally confirm all pending instances involving the entitlements of fallen officers of their respective instructions, stressing that no household of a deceased officer needs to be deserted to face monetary difficulties.

Addressing the persistent banditry disaster, Disu acknowledged that regardless of the achievements recorded by the Force, a number of communities throughout the nation remained weak to assaults.

He directed Commissioners of Police in affected states to submit up to date safety risk assessments and operational necessities to Force Headquarters inside 72 hours.

He additionally instructed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in control of Operations to coordinate the speedy deployment of extra personnel, mobility property and air help to the worst-hit areas.

The police chief additional referred to as for intensified intelligence-led operations and stronger collaboration with conventional rulers, village heads, hunters’ associations and native vigilante teams to enhance intelligence gathering and sort out prison actions.

“The people know who the bandits are. We must give them the confidence to tell us,” he said.

Disu emphasised that the police should stay dedicated to defending Nigerians, warning that officers should reveal their dedication by way of concrete actions.

“The Nigerian people did not elect any of us. We wear this uniform to protect them, and their confidence in us is not an entitlement. It is something we must earn every day through visible action. The bandits do not rest. Neither shall we,” he stated.