The Kwara State Police Command has declared that all political thugs in the state will be cleared from the streets before the 2019 general elections to ensure a peaceful exercise.
The state Commissioner of Police, Fafowora Bolaji made this disclosure in Ilorin, the state capital while answering questions on a Radio Kwara personality interview programme “Playing Host,” at the weekend.
According to him, his officers and men would sweep the entire streets of Ilorin and its environs of political thugs and cultists, who are already warming up to be recruited by some politicians before, during and after the elections.
He reiterated that the act of policing has nothing to do with politics but rather to protect the lives and property of law abiding citizens and enforce the law, explaining that his deployment to the state has no political colouration.
Fafowora, who warned and cautioned politicians against violating electoral laws said he would soon hold a meeting with all the registered political parties and their leaders on how to play the game of politics in line with laid down rules and regulations.He however urged parents to be wary on the type of group their children or wards relate with.
The Police Commissioner though described Kwara as a relatively peaceful state compared with other states in the federation, but said the command would not take it for granted and go to sleep stressing that it is always at the time of peace, that security operatives prepare for eventualities.
Fafowora attributed crime among the youth to background issues from bad homes and peer group influence, drug influence as well as the society.
He therefore called on the authorities concerned to ensure that laws to checkmate the excesses of miscreants are fully enforced to serve as deterrent to others who are likely to be lured into such criminalities.
Speaking further, Fafowora described community policing as world best practice and a welcome development in the country in crime prevention and effective policing as the police alone cannot fight crime.
According to him, drug infiltration into Kwara State from neighbouring states and other border communities could be curbed by putting in place an effective policing, adding that he had already held meetings with other security operatives to ensure that the border lands were well policed.
The police boss warned his officers and men to ensure that they abide strictly by the force orders and administrative instructions in the discharge of their duties, adding that anyone found wanting would be severely dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land.
