The new Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Mr. Joseph Eribo, has promised to flush out criminals in Ekiti State, this he said is achievable by aligning with other sister agencies in the State.
The Commissioner of Police stated this while speaking with journalists who were on courtesy visit to the new helmsman in his office at the command headquarters, Ado Ekiti.
Speaking further he said, governance is continuous and others have been here and have done so well but there will always be room for improvement. He assures that he has come to improve on what he met on ground. According to the commissioner, the command will not act alone but with other sister agencies which he said he has been talking to, carrying along and synergising with in other to flush out criminals from Ekiti State.
Eribo gave an assurance that based on his discussion with the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, the command is ready to redouble efforts in the fight against crimes to improve on where his predecessor stopped.
Speaking on border policing, he affirmed that constitutionally there is freedom of movement but at the same time it has to be checked and properly monitored thereby ensuring that lives and property are protected for the well-being of the society. He added that the command has its officers and men at the borders aside their ubiquitous presence in the state.
On the possibility of criminals entering the state through the bushes instead of normal border channels, he acknowledged and commended the Ekiti State government for putting some outfits like the Amotekun, Agro marshalls, and other allied bodies in place to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies.
He pointed out that this will help in flushing out the criminals from their hideouts.
In his response to a question on missing persons in the state, the police boss asserted that the primary step is to lodge complaints at the police where such case is documented. Then, the police have the duty of swinging into action to unravel the whereabouts of the person.
According to him, “there are also technology devices used in tracing missing person “.
Eribo solicited the cooperation of the youths in the efforts of the police to tackle social vices. Similarly, he sees the media as a fundamental ally in the battle to curb society’s undesirable elements. Hence, there should be a good relationship between the police and journalists.
The chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti State Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi earlier informed the Commissioner that his members and police will work as partners in progress as it has been the scenario with his predecessors.
Babatuyi explained that journalists, as the watchdog of the society or the fourth estate of the realm, are stakeholders in national development. He assured the police chief that journalists would use their various platforms to project the command’s activities.
Eribo formally assumed duties in the state last week, having taken over the baton from Mr Akinwale Adeniran, who has been elevated to Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG.
While the new Commissioner of Police promised to bring police very closer to the door step of every citizen in Ekiti state, he said further that all the flash points of criminals have been mapped, and his men have been strategically stationed there. He added that efforts are ongoing to strengthen the joint taskforce that would encompass citizens; ethnic groups to flush out criminals and checkmate herders – farmers clash.
