By Bose Adelaja
CITIZENS COMPASS —Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, rolled out the Command’s achievement within a period of three months.
The period, according to him, was from July 1, 2023 till date.
He disclosed this at a press briefing organised at the Command’s headquarters in Warri.
The Commissioner said part of the achievement was to restore peace to Ekpan by redeploying the then Divisional Police Officer of (DPO), Ovwain Aladja, owing to the volatile nature of that area.
Another achievement was to restore normalcy to Jesse Road where kidnapping was at its peak.
While addressing the press briefing, Abass said 13 suspected kidnappers and seven suspected armed robbers were arrested.
He said 72 suspected cultists were arrested while a total number of 54 firearms were recovered, nine kidnapped victims were rescued, 286 ammunition were recovered with 195 cartridges.
“I welcome you all to this press briefing which affords me the opportunity to brief you on the achievements of the Command from 1st of July 2023 till date.
” On 23rd June 2023, at the strategic police managers conference, the Acting Inspector General of Police Ag. IGP Olukayode Egbetokun Ph.D, NPM, the IGP stated that his goal is to stamp out violent crimes and increase safety and security in the country.
The Command under my watch has since keyed into the vision and mission of the IGP. Part of my first major shake-up in the Command was the redeployment of the then DPO Ovwain Aladja to Ekpan owing to the volatile nature of that area.
You will agree with me that Ekpan, which used to be a troubled area, is now very safe and residents can now go about their lawful businesses.
“In the month of September 2023, I directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations to embark on an on-the-spot assessment of the Jesse Road where kidnapping was gradually becoming the order of the day.
” Consequently, security strategies were reviewed culminating in the deployment of DOPS Buffalo team, tactical teams and the Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime Squad to the area. The strategy paid out as within a few days of its emplacement, some suspected kidnappers were arrested while a good number of Assault rifles were recovered.
“Below is a summary of achievements of the command in numerical statistics:
No. of kidnappers arrested: 13
No. armed robbers arrested: 7
No of cultist arrested: 72
No of firearms recovered: 54
No of kidnapped victims rescued: 9
No of ammunition recovered: 286
No of cartridges recovered: 195
“I wish to use this opportunity to appreciate the State Government for its unwavering support to the Command, I also wish to commend the various sister security agencies for their continuous collaboration with the Command.
” My indebtedness also goes to residents who have continued to support the Command by providing us with useful, timely and credible information. I would wish to use this medium to warn our youth to desist from jungle justice.
” Apart from being an act of self-help, jungle justice is barbaric. It festers a circle of violence and lawlessness thereby sabotaging the prospect of having the fundamental human rights of the victims protected. In several instances, victims of self-help are attacked based on frivolous allegations without being allowed access to fair hearing.
“The Command will no longer tolerate this human right abuse, as anyone who engages in such practice will be identified, fished out and dealt with in accordance with the law.”
