The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, on Monday in Ilorin, Kwara state vowed to take back all communities taken over by bandits, kidnappers and insurgents in the state and Nigeria in general.
Addressing officers and men of the state command of the Nigeria Police, Disu said that criminals could not chase “us out of our communities. It’s our land and we shall not at any time relinquish it to them”.
“I know Kwara State and I know the problems we are having. I was here for about a month on security duty before my appointment as IGP. I am in the state today for an operation. I am also here to say thank you for all you have been doing. All of you here have been wonderful. I have come to say thank you for everything you have been doing to assist us.
“At the same time, I want to beg you for more cooperation. Criminals cannot pursue us out of our towns. We are the owners of the towns. And we will not allow that to happen. We have to take back our homes, we have to take back our communities. That is why I am here to tell you that all of us will take back our communities,” the IGP said.
“I have visited Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and thanked him. He has been very wonderful by providing a lot of things to support the police command in the state.
“I am going to visit some places in town. I am visiting my officers who have been there for months. I am going to encourage them to do more,” Disu added.
The IGP, who said there are bad and good people among herdsmen, exonerated some of them from banditry and kidnapping for ransom.
“I say with all authority that we have a lot of Fulani people assisting us in doing our job. At the same time I beg them to be of greater assistance. They should gather more information and give same to us.
“The way it is going it is dangerous, not all Fulanis are bad. We have good Fulanis who have been our neighbours for thousands of years,” Disu said.
He promised to put the welfare of police as top priority in his administration.
“I want to give you my words that I will look into the welfare of policemen,” the IGP said.
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