By Correspondent in Ilorin.
The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Police Command, CP Tuesday Assayomo, says kidnappers bandits have not relocated to the state.
He stated this in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO for the Police Command in the state,SP Okasanmi Ajayi, a copy of which was at the disposal of The Reporters on Friday.
The online publication recalls that Iba Adams, according to o media report last Saturday, raised alarm about the presence of bandits and kidnappers in Kogi and Kwara states,citing report at his disposal to butress his point.
Iba Adams,who disclosed this while speaking at the 2021 edition of Oya Festival in Ira, Kwara State, therefore, advised Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasak to establish a state security outfit to combat the growing influx of such criminals in to the state.
The PPRO disclosed that Assayomo took tour of Kwara South senatorial zone, to see first hand the security situation of the zone, in response to the anxiety and concern raised by the people of the state as an aftermath of the alarming statement credited to one Chief Gani Adams sometimes last week.
Okasanmi said the tour was to the effect that, Kidnappers and Bandits had finally relocated to Kwara state, where specific mention of Kwara South was made.
He qouted the Commissioner as having held meetings with security community in Offa and Omuaran, where the people, comprising of traditional rulers, religious leaders, vigilante, local hunters and sister security agencies were in attendance.
During the meeting,the CP advised the people to join hands with the police and other security agencies in ensuring that the sustenance of the existing peace and harmony in the state.
Speaking on the statement by Chief Gani Adams, the CP reiterated his determination to deal with criminals, irrespective of names or groups they belong and to work with any individual or group of people interested in collaborating with the police to fight crime.
The CP expressed displeasure over the statement, saying that rather than encouraging the people, it was seen to have heightened their anxiety, adding that there were better ways and channels by which sensitive information could be passed to the relevant authorities,if there was need for such.
Assayomo said:”Kwara State is an integral part of Nigeria and as such, is not completely immuned from the security challenges bedeviling all other states, adding that the fact remained that “Kwara State is one of the most peaceful states in the country.”
He noted that the support of the people, the government and other stakeholders had helped tremendously in sustaining and maintaining the fragile peace in the state.”
The Commissioner assured the good people of the state that there was no relocation of bandits or Kidnappers into the state, adding that the state had succeeded in rescuing kidnapped victims and arrested many kidnappers in the past.
He said the command would “not relent in doing all that is necessary to sustain the peace and tranquility in the state, including coopting the Fulani and other ethnic groups in the vigilante service to enhance the security of our bushes.”
The CP reiterated that adequate security had been emplaced in and around the state, pointing out that the people would also begin to witness visible police presence on all the highways; entrance and exit points of the state, assuring that the Command’s intelligence arm had also been fully on ground.
“The Command has also strengthened the synergy between the command and other security agencies, all in a bid to ensure adequate information dissemination in the state,” the police boss in the state said.
He, therefore, advised the people to go about their lawful businesses and make information available to the police, at all times, as part of their civic responsibility towards ensuring peace in the state.
Also reacting to Iba Adam’s claim, in a telephone interview with The Reporters in Lokoja, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Police Command in Kogi State, DSP William Aya, tasked him to prove such claim as regards his reference to the state.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
