Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has vowed that security agencies will reclaim communities in Kwara State from bandits.
He declared that criminal elements cannot drive residents away from their ancestral homes.
The police chief made the declaration on Monday during a visit to the state where he met with security officials and community leaders to review the security situation and ongoing operations against banditry.
Speaking to residents and stakeholders at the police command, the IGP said his visit was aimed at discussing security challenges and strengthening cooperation between the police and the public.
“I want you to know why I am here. I am here to discuss all the issues related to the problem of security in Kwara State,” he said.
Disu noted that he was already familiar with the security situation in the state, having previously led police personnel involved in operations to flush bandits from forests in parts of Kwara.
According to him, he spent about a month in the area coordinating the deployment of officers during clearance operations targeting criminal groups operating from forest hideouts.
He commended residents for supporting security agencies and urged them to sustain the cooperation to enable the police to defeat criminal elements in the state.
“I came to thank you for everything you have been doing to assist the police and at the same time seek more cooperation,” he said.
Declaring that communities must not surrender to bandits, the IGP said residents and security agencies must work together to reclaim affected areas.
“These bandits cannot push us out of our own town. We are the owners of this town and we will not allow that to happen. Will we allow that to happen? No. We have to take back our own. We have to take back our communities. That is why I am here to tell you that all of us are going to take back our communities”, he said.
The Inspector General also revealed that he had earlier visited the state governor to appreciate the support the government had been providing to the police.
He described the governor as supportive, noting that the state government had provided several forms of assistance to security agencies to strengthen policing operations.
“I have visited the governor and thanked him because he has been wonderful. He has provided a lot of things for the police, assisting the police to do their job,” he said.
The police chief added that he would tour some locations within the state to meet officers who had been deployed to the area for months, with the aim of boosting their morale and assessing operational needs.
He explained that discussions had also been held with the state Commissioner of Police on the resources required to strengthen ongoing security operations.
According to him, the needs identified would be taken back to Abuja to ensure that the command receives the necessary support.
“I have spoken with the commissioner of police and I am here to listen to him and go back with everything he needs so that we can give him all the assistance required to provide security for you,” he said.
He further revealed that Kwara was deliberately chosen as the first state he would visit after assuming office as Inspector General of Police.
“I told myself that Kwara will be the first place I will visit after becoming the IGP, and I am happy that it was the first,” he said.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as a major morale booster for officers in the state command.
According to him, the visit was an opportunity for the police chief to assess the situation on ground and determine additional measures needed to conclude the operations he stated.
He thanked the Inspector General for returning to the state to support the command’s efforts in tackling banditry and other security challenges.
