From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Inspector General of police, Usman Alkali Baba has warned officers of the Police force to desist from political participation during and after the forthcoming general election.
The IG who handed down the warning while addressing officers and men of the Kogi police command at state command headquarters, Lokoja Charged them to be apolitical before, during and after the election, “you must not allow yourselves to be used because they will dump your after the elections”.
According to him,”you have a duty and responsibility to uphold the Constitution, to protect the lives and property of the citizens, you cannot afford to fail in carrying out these tasks”.
IG Baba promised to look into various challenges that may be facing them especially the rank and file with a view to provide enabling environment that would bring out the best performance on them.
“We will look into the challenges being faced by the rank and file knowing fully well that a good working environment will bring out the best in productivity. We will provide working tools such as vehicles and communication gadgets that would make them as crime fighters an easy task.”
The IG who requested the police synergy with other sister agencies and loyalty to the constituted authorities in return called on senior officers to engage Community police and other security outfits to assist them in carrying out their duties.
“You need their cooperation and that of other sister security outfits, consider yourself as their partners,you need to be in synergy with them, you need them just as the need you to be successful in your assignments.
Added to the problem of robbery, are kidnapping, banditry, we must rise up to the occassion as they rear their ugly heads” the IG noted.