We are battle ready to stop crime this year – Manko
Police
boss Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Onikan
Lagos , Umar Manko assured residents in Lagos and Ogun states that the
police are battle ready to stop all crime and criminality in the New
Year and as the General elections approaches.In order to have maximum security in Ogun and Lagos states, . Mr. Manko who also spoke about other issues concerning the Nigeria Police Force urged residents to go about their lawful business as the police in the Zone are not resting on their oars in ensuring that residents and visitors are protected from men of the underworld.
“ The police in the Zone 2 Police Command are working hard to ensure safety of lives and property in Lagos and Ogun States. We are going to provide a level playing ground for all the politicians and political parties .
We however want the politicians to play by the rules of the game so that there will be peace . We are always ready to nip crime in the bud .I have been to the Ogun and Lagos state police commands where we discussed the security situation in the states .
We have been having series of meeting with the Divisional Police Officers , Areas commanders and other senior officers and I told them that we do not have to wait for festive period to provide maximum security. We are always providing the best round the clock security for Nigerians and visitors .
Every policeman has been placed on high alert so we can have a crime -free New Year and the during the forthcoming general elections”.
Mr. Manko also assured residents that the recently reintroduced Gender Desk in the Nigeria Police Force will handle issues of rape , domestic violence and other related issues with the professionalism required adding that rapists will be made to face the full wrath of the law under his watch.
“Establishing the Gender Desk is a directive and a mandate from the Inspector General of Police. Essentially, the Gender desk will take care of issues that concern both men and women. Some people think that Gender is all about women but gender also includes men. Issues like domestic violence against men and women in Lagos and Ogun States will be handled by the Gender Desk.
In some cases, you find out that the woman is stronger and she can beat up the men. Issues like rape, defilement , molestation among others will be pursued vigorously by the Desk.
The Gender Desk in the Zone is to coordinate the activities of the Gender Desks in the state commands and we are prepared to carry out this function .Already, the two state commands, Lagos and Ogun states have complied with the IGP’s order .
We are following the directives to ensure that the Gender Desk is functioning . Also, at the Zonal Command, we are establishing a mini GENDER DESK that will be manned by competent officers who are trained for such duties .
The Gender Desk at the Zonal Command will supervise the ones at the state commands. Our major function is to supervise the commands and I am assuring that issues that affect women and the girl child will receive the best attention under my leadership.
We are reorganizing the Special Anti robbery Squad too . We are making things better at the Zonal command level so that issues that are brought here receive the best attention”. AIG Manko also spoke about the clashes between the Police and the Civil Defence Corps over the protection of pipelines in Ogun and Lagos states .
He also spoke about allegations linking police men to pipeline vandalism adding that residents should cooperate with the law enforcement agencies to nip crime in the bud and report all suspecting persons . “It is unfortunate that there were clashes between the police and the Civil Defence Corps.
The Civil Defence Corps has the statutory responsibility of protecting critical federal government installations and the police have the duty to protect lives and property and ensure public safety so there should be no misunderstanding if every service plays their roles.
The IGP’s Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit is headed by a Deputy Inspector General of Police and the IGP has mandated the Unit to ensure that they carry out their duty without causing friction so as to prevent clashes .
Also, all the field Commanders are known to me and under my watch, clashes will not happen again. I will ensure that they carry out their duties without causing any friction.
The police recently arrested some persons suspected to be pipeline vandals after months of surveillance. We arrested some persons who buy the proceeds from vandalized pipelines and we recovered 224 Kegs of what we suspect to be Petrol Motor Spirit .
The police also recovered 112 empty kegs from the nefarious activity. The Nigeria Police Force will not tolerate officers involved in any shady operation with vandals .
If such a policeman is arrested, they will be made to face the full wrath of the law”. AIG Manko also addressed growing concern over the behavior of some policemen who involve themselves in domestic violence to the extent that they end up killing family members , friends and neighbours and in some cases, inflicting injuries on others over minor misunderstanding.
He said such behaviours are isolated cases and not the character of Nigeria Police Force . AIG Manko also cautioned policemen to abide by the dressing code of the Force as the Police high command is poised to instil discipline in the officers and men of the Force.
“I need to reiterate that such behaviours( fighting and killing by policemen) are not acceptable in the Nigeria Police Force and it is not a way of life for policemen. This is just individual differences.
It is totally based on the individual and not a way of life for policemen and therefore should not be ascribed to the police. I feel any policeman who behave in this manner should be taken for psychiatric evaluation.
A policeman who kills another person will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law as we will not tolerate such behavior among our officers and men”. Concerning the issue of dress code for policemen, I would like to state that nobody has asked the policemen to stop wearing the black uniform.
The blue and the camouflage are additions to the black uniforms . The IGP Suliaman Abba has not issued any directive in that regard.
Those officers who are saying that they have been asked to stop wearing the black uniform are misinformed ; The Nigeria Police Force has a code of dressing and the officers and men are advised to abide by this code .The problem of police accommodation is not new and previous Inspector General of Police have in their own way addressed this issue .
The present IGP is also looking into this issue and he has assured that the welfare of police officers and men will be taken care of not just when they are in service but after they have retired . The IGP is also looking into other issues confronting the police Force.
If a policeman has decided to commit any offence, he or she should not expect to receive the same treatment as members of the public.
This is because a policeman is under oath to protect lives and property. What do you think will happen to a policeman that assisted armed robbers? or those who are accused of rape ? When such a policeman is arrested, he will face the Orderly room trial and from there if he is found wanting then he will be dismissed and prosecuted .
A policeman is paid with tax payers’ money and the highest responsibility and conduct are expected of him. I will not tolerate any bad behaviour from policeman. If they are found wanting they will be dealt with accordingly and if they are innocent of the crime then they will be set free.
We will not take the matter with levity because the person that is accused is a policeman, rather we will look into the allegation will all seriousness so we will not allow bad eggs to remain in the Police Force.
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