Criminals Have No Hiding Place In The Zone-- AIG Adebowale Williams

The Assistant Inspector General Of Police, AIG Zone 7 Police Command AIG, Adebowale Williams, has read riot act to criminals operating within the zone to change or be smoked out and smashed in no distant time adding that the criminals have no hiding place within the zone.

Williams made the declaration on Thursday, at the occasion of his familiarization visit to the FCT Police command, stating that even though modern day policing in a democratic setting like Nigeria has its own share of challenges. 

He stated that the current challenges are from the activities of non-state actors, bandits and insurgents, Kidnappers and armed robbers and decried the evolution in technology, which he said has its own share of consequences.

According to the AIG Williams, the modus operandi of the non-state actors, which are mostly non-conventional because of its guerrilla warfare tactics made it somewhat difficult to end the menace quickly.

He assured that one thing was certain, stressing that the criminals have no hiding place and that they would all be smoked out and smashed in no distant time.

He explained that police would continue to do its duty constitutionally to provide security of life and property not only to the citizen but to every person living in Nigeria. 

According to him, there is the need for all hands to be on deck so that the primacy of the institution could be sustained for it to take its pride as a leading agency in internal security.

He explained that the New Police Act 2020 availed the Force widest range of novel provisions to make their work easy, adding that the Act takes into cognizance the need to standardize policing in Nigeria in tune with international best practices.

“The fundamental objective of the Act is providing police service that is based on the principle of accountability, transparency, respect for the rule of law, protection of human rights, strategic partnership and community policing, synergy and collaboration with other stakeholders.

“The framers of the Act seek to streamline and synchronize it with the 1999 constitution as amended and Administration of criminal Justice system ACJA 2015, so that procedurally the police can function effectively without being found wanting.

“There is no doubt that policing trust of the Inspector General of Police Ag IGP Kayode Egbetokun PhD; NPM is in line with the objective of the police Act 2020.” He said.

AIG Williams acknowledges the fact that there were pockets of incidents of armed robbery and kidnapping in the recent past, and commended the efforts of the Commissioner of Police FCT and his management team, as well as all officers and men of the FCT command for several breakthroughs that have been recorded in recent times.

“There have been arrests of notorious kingpins, recoveries of arms and ammunition, sustained raids and rescue of kidnapped victims within the FCT and Suburbs

“I note with commendation your strategic partnership with other security agencies within the FCT. This goes to show that you are in tune with reality

“The present challenges require a multifaceted approach and no single agency in the present circumstances can do it all alone

“Notwithstanding, the commendable achievements recorded so far,

“There is room for improvement. Modern policing is intelligence led, community based and technology driven

“We must therefore work harder to enhance our intelligence capacity and capability.” He stated.

He challenged the officers and men of the FCT command to take advantage of the Police Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU), Crime Database Unit, NPF National Cybercrime Section and the NPF Interpol among others to enhance their proactive policing. 

“We must improve on visibility policing. We must sustain strategic partnership with other security agencies and other stakeholders

“We must improve on traffic control within the FCT. Traffic officers must be on their toes to ensure traffic flows within the FCT. We must reinvigorate stop and search devoid of extortion

“Effectively man black spots and sustain the present tempo in raid of criminal hide outs. Scavenging has been banned within the FCT. We mustn’t allow them to continue to operate.” He said.

He tasked the FCT command to engage the local communities more in the policing of the communities, work together in agreement to restore professionalism in the Police, ensure efficient utilization of resources and build confidence.

“Lastly, we have a new government in place making efforts to improve on the security and welfare of Nigerians. We must play our role in securing a low crime and respect of the rights of Nigerians

“Be disciplined and support citizens so that information can flow seamlessly for us to work with less stress. Support the efforts of the IGP at repositioning the NPF

“All these efforts would endear us to the citizens and would encourage citizens to easily volunteer information to prevent crime and in the apprehension of criminals

 “I was informed by the CP FCT that late last year; the FCT administration assisted the command with twenty brand new operational vehicles fitted with communication gadgets. We must reciprocate this gesture by discharging our duties professionally, responsibly and scaling up our service delivery.” He said.

He appealed for the cooperation of members of the public, stating that policing is not a one-man business stressing that the command must collaborate and cooperate to achieve the Zones’ desire for a safe and secure environment.

“Where the people cooperate with the Police the criminals find it difficult to operate.” He said.