Massive deployment of policemen in Abuja

The Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Mr Musa Kimo, says the command has embarked on massive deployment of its personnel to check activities of criminals in the territory.

Kimo, who disclosed this at a meeting with members of the Eminent Persons Forum in Abuja on Tuesday, said the initiative would help to rid the territory of criminal elements.

He said that with the deployment, constant raid of criminals’ hideouts in the territory would be sustained.

“With the massive deployment of personnel, there will be increase in stop-and-search, speedy investigation, aggressive intelligence gathering and speedy prosecution of cases by the command,“ he said.

The commissioner said that the formation of the forum had erased mutual suspicion between the police and members of the public.

He said the initiative would enhance community and intelligence-led policing which, he said, was the bedrock of modern policing.

“The forum will enhance the operation of the police to enable it to granulate and strangulate criminal elements in the territory,“ he said.

Kimo said that welfare of personnel of the command was a top priority to encourage them to discharge their duties effectively.

“Anywhere I go as the commissioner of police I always ensure that the welfare of my officers is a top priority,“ he said.

He advised residents of the territory to always report suspicious characters to the nearest police station or post for speedy response.

Former FCT commissioner of police, Mr Lawrence Alobi, urged residents of the territory to partner with the police for effective service delivery.

He called on residents to be patriotic and committed to the course of providing adequate security.

Alobi said that the police needed the support of every Nigerian to provide security, adding that the under-funding of the police was hampering their operations.

Retired AIG of Police, Mr Kayode Theophilus, called for the formation of an action plan committee to harmonise actions of the forum.

He said that the work of the forum would be a waste if its actions were not put together for onward transmission to the relevant authorities for implementation.

Alhaji Shaban Nizazo, a traditional ruler, called for enhanced welfare package for members of the police force to enable them to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

Nizazo urged the commissioner to set up a Think-Tank that would look into the issue of welfare of the officers of the command.

Nizazo urged the Federal government to recruit more policemen to enhance the manpower base of the force.

He called for the establishment of more police stations and posts in some areas in the area councils to check activities of criminals.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, initiated the formation of the forum at all police commands in the country.

Membership of the forum comprised critical stakeholders such as community leaders, Religious leaders, retired senior security officers and traditional rulers.

The forum is aimed at assisting the police in mediation and social control during security challenges.