The Kogi Police Command on Wednesday assured residents of adequate security during Christmas and New Near celebrations.
The state Police Commissioner, Bethrand Onuoha, disclosed this in a statement issued in Lokoja by the command’s spokesman, SP Williams Ovye-Aya.
The commissioner, who issued strong warning to criminal elements to stay clear of Kogi, reiterated the ban on use of fireworks by youths during the Yuletide.
“To ensure a crime free Christmas and New Year celebrations, I have ordered for a water tight security across the state,” he said.
Onuoha, who was briefing the Senior Officers of the Command at the Police Command Headquarters, Lokoja, charged all the Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers as well as Operational and Tactical Commanders to beef up security ahead of the yuletide to prevent any untoward situation in their Area of Responsibilities (AOR) throughout the period.
“You should implement the Comprehensive Crime Prevention and Control Strategies adopted by the Command to improve visibility policing and deploy human and other operational assets.
“Therefore, ensure to carry out confidence building and crime prevention patrols along the major highways, residential areas and other critical assets as well as undercover operations to black spots, criminal hideouts and flash points to curtail all forms of crimes and ensure peaceful Yuletide in the state.
“I hereby reiterates the ban on the use of fireworks during the festive period,” he said.
He, however, advised parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to desist from such acts, “as officers have been directed to arrest anyone who violates this order”.
According to him, the police, in synergy with other security agencies, are putting more efforts to ensure a peaceful celebration of the Christmas and new year in Kogi.
He however urged residents of the state to cooperate with the command by reporting suspicious movements or any act of criminality within their neighbourhood to security agencies nearest to them.
