By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna.
A new Police Mobile Force Base, 61 Squadron has been established in Kontagora in Niger state.
The new Police Mobile Force unit brings to two such Police Mobile Force establishments in the state.
The first is Police Mobile Force Squadron 12 located in the state capital, Minna. The new formation is to add bite and strength to the Police in the fight against crime and criminalities in the state and the country at large.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state said Monday at the earth breaking and sword turning ceremony for the new Police Mobile Base that the establishment of the new Police Mobile Base is aimed at providing adequate policing of the state to curb crime wave and bring security check closer to the doorstep of every community.
He noted that community policing remains the surest way to guarantee public safety, right to life and freedom as well as the baston in the fight against all forms of crime and criminalities.
Governor Bello said the construction of the 61 Police Mobile Force, (PMF) Base in Kontagora is part of the federal government’s efforts to ensure adequate policing of the country and in the onslaught against crime.
The Governor while praising the efforts of the federal government in the fight against crime and terrorism, enlisted the cooperation and contribution of all well meaning citizens in exposing people of unacceptable life styles and those with questionable characters and means of livelihood.
He said citizens owe it duty to the state to report criminal tendencies and criminalities to the authorities as their part of civic obligation for the good of all and for the of the state.
Governor Bello lamented over the surge in criminal activities by individual citizens and bemoaned the gradual but steady loss of societal norms and values over time.
He called for synergy between security personnel and citizens in the fight against crime. “When the public is satisfied with, and has confidence in the Police, they will be willing to assist and offer useful information that could assist in checkmating crimes and unwholesome conducts within their domain.
He harped on the need for all the personell of the Nigerian Police Force to improve on their relationships with local communities saying a lot depends on the perception of the public on your conducts and attitudes”.
“I commend officers and men of security agencies in the state for the prompt way they have responded in preventing and responding to criminal challenges and breakdown of law and order in Niger state” Governor Bello said even as he appealed on citizens in the state assist the Police in it’s task.
Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Ibrahim Kpotun Idris said the construction of an operational PMF Base in Kontagora is to facilitate timely and effective response and deployment of officers and men to any part of the state nay the country at moments of needs.
IGP Kpotun assured men and officers of the Nigerian Police Force of his commitment to their welfare and development. He said he would continue to invest in their training and retraining to meet the needs and targets of a well positioned Police Force.
Governor Bello and IGP Kpotun had earlier inspected the temporary site of the Mobile Base at Tungan Wawa after which they returned to the site for the ground breaking ceremony for the Base in Kontagora.
