The newly deployed Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Bagega Lawal has vowed to wage war against kidnapping in the state.
Towards this end, he added that the Anti-kidnapping unit, ex-squad and the monitoring units of the command would be reinvigorated.
The Police boss disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the command’s headquarters on Wednesday in Ilorin.
He said that no effort would be spared to sustain and consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, in securing lives and property of the people of the state.
To hit the ground running, the CP said that the command had raided criminal hideouts and made some arrests, while a suspected vandal of government property had also been apprehended.
He stated that the suspects arrested would soon be charged to court.
Lawal also promised to explore the community policing initiative, as directed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
He appealed to the people of the state to supply the police with credible and verifiable information about crime and criminality in the state.
The new police commissioner, while soliciting for the support of the media and other stakeholders in the fight against crime, tasked journalists on credible and discrete investigations that would help the police fight crimes and criminality in the state.
He also solicited for the support of traditional rulers in curbing criminal activities in the state, while promising to respect the rights of citizens and ensure zero tolerance for corruption and corrupt tendencies.
The Police Commissioner also promised to fight and checkmate activities of cultists and other violent crimes, such as armed robbery and social disorder.
Lawal, hails from Bagega in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara state, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Bsc) in political science, from the University of Sokoto.
After his youth service in Plateau State, he enlisted in the Nigerian Police Force as a young cadet officer on March 1st, 1990, and served in various capacities in different commands and formations, including, Osun, Bauchi, Delta, Lagos, Adamawa, Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa and Imo State police commands.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the Kwara State Police Command, Mr Okasanmi Ajayi, the new state police boss, served at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, before his deployment to Kwara State.
The statement, said the new commissioner of police, attended courses both within and outside the country, including disaster management course at Mount Carmel Khalifa, Israel, senior executive courses in integrity and management and corruption, in intermediate command course, (ICC) from command and staff college, Jos.
