The Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, yesterday revealed that, in the last six months, the Nigeria Police has lost 435 men to crime across the country. Also, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, noted that the challenge of insurgency and kidnapping can be overcome in Nigeria if there was an effective synergy between the Nigeria Police and the Department of the State Security Service (DSS).
The police boss, who made this known during a meeting with the Police Community Relation Committee, PCRC, in Osogbo, Osun State capital, said the officers lost their lives in the course of protecting lives and property of the people in the country. He, however, assured Nigerians that the police authorities would do its best to see that welfare of its officers are well taken care of.
“I commend policemen for fighting for the corporate existence of the country and their death would not be in vain and I at the same time, charge others to continue to fight for their fatherland, as the present government is set to improve on their welfare”. He further admonished members of the communities to be more friendly with the police, affirming that, community police is a panacea to the eradication of crime in the society.
“I will always be committed to eradicating all activities that may tarnish the image of police on the highways. Road block and bribe is unprofessional conduct, and police authorities would no longer allow any behaviour that can diminish them.” The state governor, in his advice against kidnapping and insurgency in the country, when Arase visited him, argued that the Nigeria Police and the Department of the State Security Service (DSS) must work symbiotically for the interest of Nigeria’s democracy. He said that civilisation was possible only on the basis of security.
He added that the synergy needed by the agencies must be effective to penetrate the ranks of insurgents and kidnappers and thus bringing their activities to a halt in the country. According to him, “The Police and the DSS must synergise. They must share intelligence because perpetrators of kidnapping and people who carry out the act of insurgency are human beings.
With adequate intelligence, it will be easier to penetrate their ranks and liquidate whatever evil plan they have before the carry it out.” “I am appealing to the two agencies that are today Federal Government agencies to realise the need for them to work together in the interest of peace and order.”