The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 6, Calabar, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, has charged the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Dan Bature, and three others in the zone to curb the spate of crime in their various states.

Ogunsakin, who gave this charge during an address to the affected CPs at the headquarters of the zone in Calabar, urged the four police commissioners to adopt immediate strategies to combat kidnapping, cultism and post-election violence.

A statement, made available to The PUNCH on Thursday via an electronic mail, quoted Ogunsakin as warning against the insistence by officers and men of the Nigeria Police on the collection of money for bail, even as he emphasised that bail was free in all cases.

The other three CPs are Gabriel Achong (Akwa Ibom State); Henry Fadairo (Cross River State) and Maigari Dikko (Ebonyi State).

Ogunsakin singled out Rivers as the state that had become “increasingly notorious” for crimes like kidnapping and cultism, calling on the state police commissioner to act convincingly by showing special crime fighting abilities to put the situation under control.

The AIG Zone 6 explained that the situation in Rivers had prompted the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to make constant calls to him (Ogunsakin) to express his (Arase) dissatisfaction.

Ogunsakin also alleged that some aides to the newly elected council chairmen in the state were being threatened with death while some of them had been killed, insisting that the CP in the state must bring the situation under control.

The AIG added, “Regrettably, there has been increase in the rate of crime and this calls for immediate strategies to be specifically devised by all of you in your respective states with a view to finding lasting solutions.

“From my observation, kidnapping and cultism are crimes that have been on the rise in the Zone; particularly, Rivers State command is becoming increasingly notorious for this.

“Also, some aides of the newly appointed Local Government Chairmen are being threatened with death and some of them have been killed. In this light, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, must act convincingly by way of showing special crime fighting abilities to overwhelm and put the situation under control.

“This situation has made the Inspector General of Police to make constant phone calls to me as he is not in any way impressed.”

He urged the police commands in the zone to intensify their stop and search efforts geared towards the recovery of arms, ammunition, explosives and other incriminating items that were stocked for the purpose of perpetrating violence during the electioneering period.
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The AIG expressed the need for the commands to increase the raiding of black spots and criminal hideouts while reports should be made to his office.

He said, “All the arms lost by our policemen before and during the electioneering period must be recovered forthwith. DPOs and Heads of Formations to wake up. I am closely monitoring the performance of every DPO and Heads of Formations in your respective commands.

“No officer should allow his domain to be made a hideout for criminals. They must be seen to dominate their jurisdictions and exude convincing crime prevention and detection skills. There may be need for me to carry out inter-state transfers within Zone 6 Command to change officers that are not performing up to my expectation.

“I have an allergy for corruption and will therefore deal decisively with officers who indulge in corrupt practices. You must warn all your officers and men to eschew any sharp and corrupt acts that will drag the image of the Nigeria Police Force into disrepute.

“My X Squad team has commenced monitoring within the zone and the names of all officers and men found wanting in their conduct are being compiled for appropriate disciplinary actions. I must emphasise that bail remains free for all cases.”