*AIG Leye Oyebade (4th left) and other top police officers with South West Governors*
Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Leye Oyebade on Tuesday told participants at the South West Security Summit holding in Ibadan, Oyo State capital the police has been able to keep criminals at bay in Ondo, Osun and Oyo states.
AIG Oyebade is in charge of the three states classified as Zone IX of the Nigeria Police.
Making a presentation at the Dawn Commission organized summit which was attended by all the Governors of the six states of the south west and other stakeholders, AIG Oyebade said “I am happy to inform you that we have been able to put criminals at bay in the Zone. We have also arrested many armed robbery suspects, kidnap suspects, suspected ritualists, burglars, and recovered cache of arms and ammunition, stolen vehicles, motorcycles, and other valuable property across the Zone especially since the launch of the ‘Operation Puff Adder’ in the three states.”
He added ” While some of the cases are still under investigation, others have been charged to courts. The successes have been widely reported by the media, therefore needless to list them here due to constraint of time and the numerousness.”
He disclosed that “Recently, the Inspector General of Police deployed additional PMF men, Patrol Vehicles and Intelligence Response Team (IRT), to augment the existing structure. This has further assisted the Zone in depleting the strength of hoodlums who engaged in criminal activities, especially along the Ibadan-Ife highway and Iwaraja axis.”
Full text of his presentation runs thus:
“It gives me great joy to be here to make a presentation on security as it affects Zone XI to our very vibrant, dynamic and visionary governors and other important personalities in the South West that comprise this articulate audience.
” Organising a security summit of this magnitude portends hope that a desirable symbiotic relationship can exist and should be established between the police and the public in the interest of peace and security of our society. The consciousness of our amiable governors and the sensitivity of other crème de la crème in the South West geopolitical zone about having better security is more than commendable.
“I have no doubt that this idea of a security summit was muted out of burning desire and uncommon willingness to provide robust security for the good people of south west including Ondo, Osun and Oyo states under Zone XI which I currently oversee. It is this passion and commitment that we believe should drive our sincere call for this type of assemblage of individuals who can share in our vision and mission to have robust security architecture, galvanized by zeal for result-oriented, intelligence-driven and problem solving policing.
“The place of the Nigeria Police Force in the overall security architecture of Nigeria cannot be glossed over. As the lead agency in internal security, the Nigeria Police Force is saddled with enormous responsibilities/duties. These duties as expressly spelt out in Section 4 of the Police Act are:
i. Apprehension of offenders
ii. Prevention and detection of crime.
iii. Apprehension of offenders
iv. Preservation of law and order
v. Protection of life and property
vi. Due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged
vii. Performance of such military duties within or outside Nigeria as may be required of them by, or under the authority of this Act or any other Act.
“While it cannot be denied that the Nigeria Police Force is doing its best to protect Nigerians and defend our democracy, the point must be made that there are still challenges. Challenges such as kidnapping, armed robbery, burglary, cattle rustling, insurgency and other crimes and criminality still occur in some parts of the country.
“The Zone is obviously one of the most peaceful in the country. The relative peace in the three states under the Zone would not have been achieved but for the support of Mr President, the three state Governors, the Inspector-General of Police and his management team, the good people of the Zone as well as the dedication and commitment of officers and men in the three states.
“I am happy to inform you that we have been able to put criminals at bay in the Zone. We have also arrested many armed robbery suspects, kidnap suspects, suspected ritualists, burglars, and recovered cache of arms and ammunition, stolen vehicles, motorcycles, and other valuable property across the Zone especially since the launch of the ‘Operation Puff Adder’ in the three states.
” While some of the cases are still under investigation, others have been charged to courts. The successes have been widely reported by the media, therefore needless to list them here due to constraint of time and the numerousness.
Recently, the Inspector General of Police deployed additional PMF men, Patrol Vehicles and Intelligence Response Team (IRT), to augment the existing structure. This has further assisted the Zone in depleting the strength of hoodlums who engaged in criminal activities, especially along the Ibadan-Ife highway and Iwaraja axis.
“These modest achievements notwithstanding, there is still room for improvement. Of course, there are obvious challenges militating against effective policing especially in the Zone. These challenges, though not insurmountable, include some logistic problems and other infrastructural deficiencies.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in spite of the inherent encumbrances, the vision of the Nigeria Police Force is ‘to be a leading national, professional and efficient law enforcement organization’. It is also the mission of the Force ‘to provide safety and security in Nigerian communities, protect and respect human rights, and promote community partnership in preventing and controlling social order’. We do have a vision which rests on the tripartite of problem-solving, community partnership and organizational transformation.
“It is our resolve to ensure that this mission is accomplished in the Zone. The peace and tranquility we envision cannot be accomplished as long as the perennial problems earlier mentioned continue to stare us in the face. I am optimistic that this summit will help articulate further ideas to achieve optimal security in the Zone through the collaboration of all relevant stakeholders.
“The dynamism and propensity of crimes and criminality in Nigeria in general and in the Zone in particular requires a multi-facet, multi-dimensional approach if we must succeed in providing quality service that we all desire. The expectation that community policing will solve all security challenges will be a mirage without meaningful contributions by the public. Hence, in our effort to address the challenges we established the Zonal Security Stakeholders’ Forum on 25th April, 2019. The Security Stakeholders’ Forum comprising representatives of the three state governors, traditional rulers, captains of industry, PCRC and other prominent individuals, serves as a platform through which communities, individuals, and corporate organizations can make their contributions to security. Since its inauguration, the Security Stakeholders’ Forum has lived up to expectation.
“In order to properly have grasp of the security situation in Ondo, Osun and Oyo States, I embarked on familiarization visit to the component parts of the Zone to evaluate the operational efficiency and readiness of officers and men in carrying out their constitutional duties as previously enumerated. My interaction with my men showed officers and men who were (and are still) determined to carry out their mandate with renewed vigour and patriotism, but the logistics to do it are inadequate.
“During my last visit to the Marine Police in Igbokoda in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, it was discovered that this important department needs support. Intelligence at our disposal revealed that criminals after committing crimes in the hinterlands, use the waterfronts as escape routes hence there is urgent need to police the riverine areas effectively. No fewer than twelve speed boats including gun boats are required for effective anti-piracy/crime patrol, enforcement of navigational laws, rescue/recovery mission and other operations.
“In all of this, our joy is that there is succor. We strongly believe that if the state governors can continue their usual support, we would solve many if not all our logistic problems. Although, the Governor of Ondo State has promised to support us with some speed boats to police the riverine areas, there is a dire need for a modern jetty for the Marine Police so that the boats could be properly placed at the harbor. The few boats available are inadequate to police the riverine communities some of which share boundary with Edo state by Akotogbo/Ijosun/Agadagba, Ogun state by Orioke/Atijere and Ibiade/Abigi waterside. Similarly, the Governor of State of Osun promised to build a modern helipad. We also require well equipped, sophisticated helicopters to enhance aerial surveillance.
Recommendations: The following recommendations are made:
i. Increasing the number of vehicles and speed motorbikes to curtail the excesses of the undesirable elements (Policing on Land).
ii. Improving policing at the riverine areas to curb their escapades on the waterfronts, and exit points through the same (Policing on Water).
iii. Introducing aerial surveillance to provide effective monitoring of hoodlums’ activities from the air space (Aerial Surveillance).
iv. Incorporating Science Technology Innovation (STI), with appropriate software applications to complement our operational efforts in the security space, especially in addressing heinous crimes viz – kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, etc, etc, (Technological driven Policing).
“I thank you all sincerely for your unflinching support over the time. I thank you for your patience. Wishing us all fruitful deliberations. God bless.”