My priorities, by new IGP

Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has said that the successful conduct of run-off elections in areas where they were declared inconclusive and hitch-free presidential, governorship and National/state Assembly inauguration ceremonies at the federal and state levels were his priority.
He stated this while delivering his inaugural speech during the hand over and take over ceremonies between him and the immediate past IGP, Suleiman Abba, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The new police boss said: “We have within the short term, two major national assignments where our professional expertise and commitment will once again be subjected to national and international scrutiny. First is the conduct of governorship elections in areas where they were declared inconclusive by INEC in Imo, Abia and Taraba states.
“The second is the delivery of hitch-free presidential, governorship and National/state Assembly inauguration ceremonies at the federal and state levels.”
He said to ensure the success of both exercises being mindful of the security threat that some unlawful individual may attempt to pose during the run-off elections, there would be massive deployment of men and materials to the affected areas in order to assure law abiding citizens, prevent social disorder, and create a secure environment for qualified electorates to exercise their franchise.
Speaking further, he said: “I must, however, re-emphasis that as a nation, we have had enough of electoral violence. Therefore, under my leadership, we shall work closely with INEC and other strategic stakeholders to ensure that such acts will not only be defined as intolerable, perpetrators will be identified, isolated and brought to deserved justice to act as deterrent.
“To unrepentant felons that may want to put our common will to test, the message is being relayed here loud and clear that in securing the law abiding, we shall also not hesitate to deploy our potent assets to deal firmly and decisively with deviants.”
Arase who promised to provide: “the highest possible level of professional and responsible leadership, noted that the task of blending the Force’s acclaimed quality human assets with quality leadership was the main challenge ahead of the new management team, just as he expressed optimism that together they would surmount the challenge.
He said: “In so doing, however, we must resolve both individually and collectively, to hold our duties sacred, perform our functions with pride, and exhibit the highest level of professional excellence in all our official engagements. Above all, we must resolve to appreciate that we remain accountable to the citizens.”
The acting IGP said that a strategic Police vision document which encapsulates intelligence-led policing, community partnership, restorative justice, re-assurance policing and healthy respect for human rights would be developed in due course.
Earlier, IGP Abba (retd), in his valedictory speech commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the opportunity given him to serve as IGP and the officers and men of the NPF for their support to him and urged them to extend same to the new Police boss and his management team.
Abba urged the new management team consolidate on the foundation in attitudinal change in the conduct of Policemen, expressing hope that one day the Force would witness a complete change, just as he prayed that the NPF would in no distant time have all it needs so they would not be facing hazard in the discharge of their duty.