By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos.
The Acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has disclosed that his management is putting in place strategies to end the use of creeks and waterways by criminals in perpetrating crime across the country.
It will be recalled that militants in recent times have resulted to using the creeks and waterways to launch attack on residents of Arepo in Ogun State and Ishawu, Igboolomu and Iba areas of Lagos, where many innocent people were killed and some kidnapped, including the monarch of Iba kingdom who is yet to be released.
Idris who made the disclosure in Lagos, while fielding questions from stakeholders at a parley, said efforts are in place to strengthen the marine unit of the Force to be able to tackle the militants using the creeks and waterways headlong.
He however urged the public to support the police by giving adequate and urgent information about criminals in their community to security agencies.
The Acting IGP promised to partner with the public, using the community policing strategy in the task against reducing crime to the barest minimum.
Idris however cautioned the public against harbouring or engaging in acts that would encourage criminality in their communities, warning that such act would not be treated with levity.
“Let me assure you that we are strategizing to tackle the issue of militant and criminals using the creeks and waterways to attack the people. We are looking into how we can increase on our performance on the creeks and waterways, we want to see how we can improve our marine police unit. Also, we shouldn’t do anything to encourage criminals in our communities”.
In a speech earlier, titled “The Importance of Community Dialogue”, the Acting IGP expressed his administration’s belief in community policing, stressing that he is going to engage in the process of dialogue with the communities as primary means of ensuring safety and security for all Lagosians and indeed all Nigerians.
“I do not claim monopoly if knowledge, wisdom or solutions. I believe in policing with the community and not policing at the community. Together we can discuss and find common solutions to problems not just of security but also of safety, the protection of the elderly, the young and the vulnerable in the society.
“I believe constant and regular interaction and dialogue with the people will lead to greater accountability, openness and transparency in the conduct of police activities. Therefore, my approach will involve consultation, cooperation and multi-agency collaboration”, the Acting IGP said.
He also implored the public to partner with the police to adopt a problem solving approach to local communal issues, partner with the police in deciding local policing priorities and ensure respect for and protection of fundamental human rights.
While addressing men and officers of the Lagos command, he urged them to be humane in dealing with members of the public, noting that they are being paid with tax payers’ money to serve.
He further implored them to conduct themselves in accordance with modern policing and directed that any petition submitted to any division must be attende to within thirty days of submission.
“Police officers should be humane to the public, you must comply with modern style of policing, policemen are meant to serve.
“Officers are meant to protect the weak in the community. So if you violate the oath administered on you during your enlistment into the Force, you will be dealt with accordingly”, the police boss emphasised.
