The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali said Thursday that the police is doing its best to sustain peaceful coexistence across the country.
Speaking at the weekly briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team in Anuja, the IGP said the police is reviewing its public safety strategies in order to address isolated cases of crime in some parts of the country.
“The security situation in the country has been significantly stabilized though we are still experiencing isolated cases of crime and threats to public safety, peace and security in some parts of the country.
“The Nigeria Police Force is however unrelenting in rejigging its public safety strategies to adequately contain prevailing and emerging crime trends across the country,” he said.
He said the strong collaboration between the police, armed forces and other security agencies led to the improved security situation in the country.
“Let me state categorically that the new spirit of collaboration between the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Armed Forces, the Department of Services and other security and intelligence agencies in the country has indeed spurred a common front in reducing crime and criminality nationwide,” he said.
On the steps being taken by the police to prevent crime in all parts of the country, the IGP said: “We are expanding well-coordinated intelligence led operations to confront bandits, kidnappers and armed secessionist groups by enhancing intelligence gathering efforts and utilizing capacity. Enhancing intelligence sharing through strengthening inter-agency collaboration with the military and other security agencies is also an aspect that is being pursued.
“We are deepening community engagement to weaken recruitment drive by secessionist groups. We are also improving our public relations and regaining the trust of the citizens through improved community engagements and enhancing ethical policies in the fight against corruption.”
He said there is a strong collaboration between the police and its foreign counterparts to tame crime across the country’s borders.
He said the use of technology is also being explored by the police to aid its fight against crime and criminality.
“The Nigeria Police National Command and Control Centre, Nigeria Police Crime and Incident Data Base and the Nigeria Police Crime analysis Centre are technology driven outfits that are used to detect and tackle criminals and are also available for the public to use for what we call ‘Rescue me’ and once you download the app and use it appropriately, wherever is your position, request or complain, it will directly hit our control room within minutes and we will respond to your request,” he said.
The IGP said since his assumption of office, over 7,000 suspects have so far been arrested and many arms recovered.
“We have made arrests of 7036 notorious criminal suspects for offences of terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, cultism, banditry and other violent crimes and recovery of sophisticated and locally fabricated firearms and large catchment of ammunitions. Prosecution of the suspects is ongoing
“We 1845 armed robbery suspects arrested, 1445 for crimes related to cultism, we have 1183 murder suspects, for cybercrimes, we have also arrested 1110 suspects. In terms of recovery of firearms, we have recovered 1717 sophisticated firearms, 341 stolen vehicles have been recovered and in terms of live ammunitions, we have 39, 541recovered. We have also rescued over 934 kidnap victims unhurt. Also, over 1665 suspects have been arrested in connection with rape and other sexual and gender based violence in the country, to date,” he said.
He said over 20, 000 cases filed by the police against various suspects are presently receiving attention in different courts across the country.
He said the police has been receiving support from corporate bodies to enhance its performance to fight against crimes and criminality.
“We have received interventions form the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) and the Police Trust Fund (PTF). The PTF gave us 200 operational vehicles; NNPC gave us 250 operational vehicles, eight Armoured Personnel Carriers, drones, marine boats and other equipment. CBN‘s intervention is also forthcoming.
All the vehicles we have received are manufactured in Nigeria,” he said.
On the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State, the IGP assured citizens of their safety before, during and after the election.
He said adequate manpower and equipment have been mobilised to ensure safety of both the electorate and election officials.
Commenting on the sudden disappearance of a Journalist, Tordue Salem, the IGP said the case has been taken over by the Force Headquarters under a unit that has more capacity to handle the matter.
He said the police have so far established the last place where the missing journalist was seen, the last person he met with and the last person he spoke to on phone before his disappearance, adding that the matter is being given the needed attention
