Miffed by the incessant banditry and kidnappings on Abuja-Kaduna highway, the Police High Command said in Abuja that it has strengthened patrol and aerial surveillance to complement foot policing.
The force headquarters has also commenced mobilisation of men and logistics towards a hitch-free Ekiti and Osun States Governorship elections
Specifically, the Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba said the force will continue to upgrade its operational facilities to meet demands for peaceful conduct of 2023 polls.
The IGP was speaking on Thursday at the force headquarters while meeting with Strategic Police Commanders drawn from all police formations across the country.
The meeting, according to the police chief, was convened to review the internal security challenge, evaluate the current political trends, the groundworks for the upcoming off-season gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun State and launch the Police Specialized Services Automation Project (POSSAP) as approved by the Federal Government
Directing the commanders to redouble their efforts, the IGP said:” With regards to the security challenges along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, I wish to use this opportunity to re-assure Nigerians that the Nigeria Police are collaborating effectively with the Military, Department of State Services, the Ministry of Transport, and the Nigerian Railway Corporation towards evolving a resilient security architecture that will address the current threats on a sustainable basis.”
In response to many critics that the police may have failed to provide the needed security, the IGP said: “January 2022 to date, the Nigeria Police have arrested a total of three hundred and twenty-eight (328) Terrorists/Bandits; three hundred and twenty-five (325) Armed Robbery Suspects; three hundred and thirty-nine (339) Kidnapping Offenders and two hundred and forty-seven (247) suspected cultists.
“Also, within this period, we have safely rescued three hundred and seven (307) kidnapped victims and recovered five hundred and ten (510) firearms of various descriptions, and eight thousand, nine hundred and six (8,906) ammunition of various descriptions and calibre including rocket propelled grenades and other Improvised Explosive Devices”
He, however, said the situation of the country has compelled the force to re-evaluate its strategies with a view to jointly evolving new approaches towards strengthening internal security operations, particularly, in relation to the mitigation of prevalent crimes of banditry, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and other highly organized and violent crimes that have overtime, been threatening national peace and security.
On hand to launch the the Police Specialized Services Automation Project (POSSAP) was the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Maigari Dingyadi.
He said:“Police Specialized Services Automation Project (POSSAP)” as approved by the Federal Government is intended to achieve three fundamental objectives.
“First is to ensure the standardisation of the process of offering police services. Second is to guarantee accountability in the process, and third is to act as a source of complementary revenue which will be channelled to augment the personnel welfare, as well as other administrative and operational needs of Force.
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