…Questions their professional proficiency, commitment to duty
Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has accused some Command Commissioners of Police (CPs) of “inappropriate response to threats of crimes in their jurisdictions”, stating: “the current security realities in the country have made this trend intolerable.”
He, however, commended the efforts of some other CPs, whose commitment to duty, had culminated in the “moderation” of crimes within their commands.
The IGP raised the question at a meeting with strategic Police managers, Thursday at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, stating that in the face of “criminal records”, which suggest an upsurge in crime across the country that thestatutory duty of the Nigeria Police is the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of internal security order.
Adamu reiterated the commitment of the Police to crime prevention, detection, as well as the maintenance of internal security.
“Criminal records point to a significant rise in crime following the conclusion of the general elections. While some security experts have attributed the trend to the disengagement of the criminal elements from politically-related activities for which they might have been engaged during the elections, others have attributed the trend to socio-economic factors.
“While the debate on the cause of the upsurge in crime could be a subject of debate or academic conjecture, what remains undebatable is the fact that the primary and statutory duty of the Nigeria Police as the lead agency in internal security framework is the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of our internal security order.
“This places on us the responsibility of assuring the citizens of their safety and security without any form of excuses. It also challenges us to rededicate ourselves to our statutory duties, constantly review our law enforcement strategies and re-order our policing priorities towards stemming the tide of crime.”
Speaking further, he said: “In this regard, let me emphasize that as strategic police managers, your professional competence is measured by your capacity to dissect the trends and patterns of crimes within your area of jurisdiction, develop and modify crime management strategies and deploy your human and material assets towards achieving a stable security order.”
Apart from overhauling crime control strategies, the CPs were further directed to crime-map their jurisdictions, with a view to achieving optimal results.
“Consequently, I charge you all, as you return to your various commands, to renew your sense of commitment to duty and demonstrate requisite professional leadership needed to roll-back the current unacceptable trend of crimes in your commands.
“In so doing, you must have the knowledge to see things differently, wisdom to think differently and courage to act creatively. Because as noted by Albert Einstein, you cannot be ‘doing the same thing over and over and expect different results’. The dynamics of crime should task you to evolve new thoughts and new approaches to crime management. Your ability to this is what defines you as a professional and an experienced police manager.
“You must therefore, return to your commands to evaluate and coordinate actions directed at overhauling your current crime control structure and strategies being conscious that the current security challenges represent a test on your leadership ability.
You must learn to crime-map your jurisdiction and harness the strength within to neutralize all forms of crimes and security threats,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Police boss said the newly introduced Operation Puff Adder was yielding results with a total of 46 suspected kidnappers and armed bandits arrested between April 5 and 10, 2019.
“Indeed, it is in furtherance to our commitment to complementing you that Operation Puff Adder was conceptualised and launched on April 5, to address in the shortest possible time the threat of kidnapping, armed robbery and armed banditry in Kogi, Niger, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina States as well as the FCT.”
Apart from the arrest of 46 suspects, and killing of 10 others, Adamu disclosed that two hostages were rescued, while arms and ammunition were also recovered.
